Scotchell’s Brook stream rises from the southern chalk block to the south of the Island. Here springs arise from the foot of the steep Upper Greensand escarpment woodlands known as Greatwood and Cliff Copses. These unusual ancient woods are notified as SSSI.
The Scotchells Brook flows north cutting a deep almost gorge like course through the soft Lower Greensand strata where it is flanked by areas of ancient semi‐natural woodland. On the east bank of the Brook is America Wood SSSI, an area of former wood pasture and a relict of the much larger complex of grazed woods and heaths around Apse Castle. It flows through Ninham Withy Bed where it is joined by a tributary before crossing under the main Newport – Sandown Road near Morrison’s at Lake.
Further north the Scotchells Brook flows through Sandown Airport and is flanked by further areas of former heathland within Blackpan Common whilst its flood plain supports some valuable areas of wet marshy grassland. Relicts of a heathland flora still survive on Blackpan Common within the roughs of Sandown Golf Course.
Scotchell’s Brook joins the Eastern Yar at Burnt House near Alverstone.
In 2014 we mapped all the issues we were aware of with regards to the Eastern Yar Catchment. This map can be viewed here. Please let us know if you know of other issues.
Photo Survey
More recently we’ve carried out a photographic survey of the Eastern Yar which you can see below (the map also shows other watercourses we’ve surveyed):
Further Reading
For ecology and details of restoration opportunities East Wight Watercourses Report December 2012
For details of the historical landscape Scotchells Brook Final Report
Projects
You can get involved in our Plant Positive project to help remove the Himalayan Balsam which is infesting this water course.
Our work in East Wight is supported by 
