Island Rivers

All about rivers on the Isle of Wight

  • The Rivers
    • Newport Rivers
      • Gunville Stream
      • Lukely Brook
      • River Medina and Merstone Stream
    • East Wight Rivers
      • Blackbridge Brook and Wootton Creek
      • Eastern Yar
      • Monktonmead Brook
      • Munsley Bog
      • Palmers Brook
      • Scotchells Brook
      • Wroxall Stream
    • West Wight Rivers
      • Caul Bourne
      • Chine Streams
      • Gurnard Luck
      • Newtown Rivers
      • Rodge Brook
      • Thorley Brook
      • Western Yar
    • Data about Isle of Wight watercourses
  • Chines
    • All about Chines
      • Forming the Chines
      • Changing Chines
      • Archaeology 1
      • Archaeology 2
      • Geology on Show
      • Smuggling
      • Shipwrecks & Lifeboats
      • Chines in Wartime
      • Wildlife of the Chines
      • Life of Leisure
      • Future for the Chines
    • Chines Research & Reports
    • Exploring the Chines
      • Small Hope Chine & Shanklin Chine
      • Luccombe Chine
      • Blackgang Chine
      • Whale Chine, Ladder Chine & Walpen Chine
      • Shepherds Chine & Cowleaze Chine
      • Grange Chine & Marsh Chine
      • Chilton Chine
      • Brook Chine & Churchill Chine
      • Compton Chine & Shippards Chine
      • NW Coast Chines
  • Explore
    • Fishing
    • Multimedia
    • Walks/Rides
    • Exploring the Chines
  • Love Your River
    • Best Practice
    • Issues
      • Flooding
      • Invasive Non-Native Species
      • Water Quality
      • Water Resources
    • Pond Care
    • The Water Cycle
    • Info & Links
    • Get Involved
    • Home learning about rivers
  • Projects
    • Our Aspirations
    • Current Projects
      • Catchment Sensitive Farming
      • Gateway to the East
      • Plant Positive – Invasive Non- Native Species Removal 2020
      • River Club
      • Meanders and Reflections
      • Wetland Restoration
      • Wroxall Stream Enhancements 2020
    • Past Projects
      • Dodnor Rediscovered
      • Medina Houseboats
      • Septic Tanks
      • Wroxall Wetlands 1
      • Wroxall Wetlands 2
  • About
    • Catchment Based Approach
    • Island Rivers Catchment Plan
    • Newport Rivers Group
    • Eastern Yar Meetings
    • Ryde Rivers Meeting
    • West Wight Rivers Meeting
    • River Basin District Liaison Panels
    • Contact
    • Privacy, GDPR and all of that
  • Events
  • News
You are here: Home / The Island’s Watercourses / Newport Rivers / River Medina and Merstone Stream

River Medina and Merstone Stream

Medina

The name Medina is derived from the Saxon name Medene meaning Middle River. The Medina rises as chalk springs from St Catherine’s Down on the south side of the Island. It is 17km long with a catchment area of 71 sq km, and flows due north.It flows through Cridmore Bog SSSI which comprises of extensive areas of marshy grassland interspersed with areas of species rich flush, valley bog and drainage ditches, on deep acid peat on the flat valley bottom. Collectively, these represent one of the largest remaining areas of wet acid peatland habitat on the IOW and contain a number of plant species now rare on the island.

It collects the Merstone Stream at Blackwater. The Merstone Stream flows from south of Rookley.

At Newport it has been heavily modified for flood defence purposes and also for historic industrial uses such as milling.

It has a linear estuary enclosed by a low valley with plenty of development and little marginal vegetation. It is tidal as far as Newport. Alverstone Stream and Dodnor Creek join the Medina in the estuary.

There are two partnerships that seek to enhance the Medina. Newport Rivers Group focuses on the watercourse as it flows through the Medina, whilst the Isle of Wight Estuaries Project have developed management plans and projects for the estuary. Projects include Medina Restoration Project, Medina Houseboats, Birchmore Pond, Riverfest and Pan Mill Meadows. In addition, Medina River and Merstone Stream are visited by our Himalayan Balsam Pulling volunteers.

The technical bits

The Catchment Data Explorer is an Environment Agency tool which helps you explore and download information about the water environment. It supports and builds upon the data in their river basin management plans. Read about the Medina and Merstone Stream here.

The Medina is currently classed as ‘Moderate’ quality within the Water Framework Directive. This means it is failing, and the aim is to improve. The objective set are ‘Moderate’ by 2021, and ‘Good’ by 2027. It is a heavily modified waterbody (HMWB) and has naturally occurring iron, which doesn’t help. Invasive non-native species and siltation also contribute to its challenges. Click for a fuller explanation.

The Medina Estuary is also classed as ‘Moderate’. There are a myriad of reasons for this. Click for a full explanation. However the objective is for ‘Good’ status by 2027. The Catchment Data Explorer gives full technical details for the estuary here.

Further Reading

Windrush Medina Habitat Assessment 2009

River Medina Improvement Works – Assessment of obstructions and fish passage issues

EA Water Body Summary Sheet

Medina Estuary Historic Environment Assessment: Marine Archaeology

Historic Environment Audit of the Medina Valley Estuary

Medina Estuary Management Plan

Explore

The following walks taking you around parts of the Medina

Medina Estuary Circular

Mill Trail

Red Squirrel / Troll Trail

Multimedia

Medina Estuary Flyover

Bill Shepherd’s Memories, Newport Quay

Get free updates

To subscribe to our mailing list just complete your details below. We send our periodic newsletters and other important updates about the project.

Connect with us

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Supported by

Down to the coast logo

Heritage Lottery Fund Logo

Island Rivers Partnership, Shide Meadows Centre, Shide Road, Newport, PO30 1HR · hello@islandrivers.org.uk · 01983 201563

Copyright © 2021 Natural Enterprise - Website designed by onlinestressfree.com