Burnt House Lane, Alverstone, near Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 0HB
Alverstone Mead
Mixed-habitat reserve
Source image
7.1
Wildland
1–2 hours
Time
Check
Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
7.1A 28-hectare patchwork of wet meadow, woodland and floodplain beside the Eastern Yar, where a raised hide sits beneath the trees and red squirrels are among the wildlife the Trust says visitors may see.
Alverstone Mead earns its place through a real mix of habitats rather than a single viewpoint: wet meadows, woodland, wildflower areas and a floodplain hide sit together beside the Eastern Yar. The wildlife story is unusually compelling for a short visit, with red squirrels, dormice, bats, dragonflies and butterflies noted by the managing Trust.
Peaceful · Wildlife-rich
Find your way
Open mapBurnt House Lane, Alverstone, near Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 0HB
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The experience
A short, wildlife-focused visit through woodland, wet meadow and floodplain habitats. Make the raised hide the centrepiece, allow time to watch quietly, and expect wet or flooded low-lying paths after rain or in winter.
Things to do
Watch from the raised hide
Use the hide reached by a raised walkway beneath the trees as a quiet place to watch the surrounding reserve. The Trust lists birdwatching and red squirrels among the reserve’s attractions; sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Allow 20–40 minutes
Follow the boardwalks through the wetland
Explore the boardwalk sections and look across the wet meadows and floodplain. Some sections have steps, and low areas may be very wet or seasonally flooded.
About 30–60 minutes
Look for dragonflies and butterflies
Watch the wetland and meadow edges for dragonflies and butterflies. The Trust identifies both as notable wildlife at the reserve.
Notice the habitat transitions
Look for the change from tranquil woodland to wet meadow and wildflower meadow across this floodplain reserve beside the Eastern Yar.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · About 1 hour
Quick escape: boardwalk and hide
- 01
Enter from the reserve access point and follow the available boardwalks towards the raised wildlife hide.
- 02
Pause quietly at the hide and scan the surrounding woodland and floodplain.
- 03
Return by the same accessible paths where conditions allow; check signs and water levels before setting out.
Half day · 2–3 hours
Make a half day of it: explore the reserve habitats
- 01
Explore the boardwalks and unsurfaced paths through the reserve, following current signs and avoiding flooded sections.
- 02
Spend time at the raised hide, watching quietly for wildlife.
- 03
Continue through the woodland and wet-meadow edges, noticing how the habitats change across the floodplain.
- 04
Allow time to retrace your route; conditions may be muddy or seasonally flooded.
Verified history
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust says management of the Alverstone Mead complex was handed over to the Trust by the Wight Nature Fund in 2021, together with a bequest from Miss Joan Barnes. The supplied evidence does not establish further historic events or dates.
Hidden details
Four reserves in one complex — The reserve complex includes Alverstone Mead, Bensteads Marsh, Youngwoods Copse and Bretts Meadow—not just the site named on the listing.
A hide tucked beneath the canopy — The wildlife hide sits at the centre of the reserve and is reached by a raised walkway beneath surrounding trees.
Floodplain paths can change with the weather — The Trust warns that low-lying areas can become very wet in winter and may flood seasonally. Check conditions and follow signs rather than assuming every path will be passable.
When to go
· Daylight hours; allow quiet time at the hide. No specific time of day is evidenced.
The Trust recommends spring and autumn. It identifies rare flowers and invertebrates at the site, but the supplied evidence does not give exact peak months. Low-lying areas can become very wet in winter and the floodplain may flood seasonally.
Expect muddy or wet unsurfaced paths after rain. Low-lying areas can become very wet in winter and are liable to seasonal flooding. Check conditions before visiting.
What to look for
- 01
Look for the raised hide beneath the surrounding trees, the transitions between woodland and wet meadow, and dragonflies and butterflies in suitable conditions. The Trust identifies red squirrels, dormice and several bat species as part of the reserve’s wildlife
- 02
sightings are not guaranteed.
The story
The Trust says management of the Alverstone Mead complex passed to it from the Wight Nature Fund in 2021, alongside a bequest from Miss Joan Barnes.
Best time to go
Spring and autumn, as recommended by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Low-lying paths can become very wet and the floodplain may flood seasonally, especially in winter.
The Trust recommends spring and autumn. Visit during daylight and allow extra time for quiet wildlife watching at the hide.
How long to spend
1–2 hours
Perfect for
Walkers · Wildlife lovers · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Listed hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust lists the reserve as open all year. It comprises four reserve areas: Alverstone Mead, Bensteads Marsh, Youngwoods Copse and Bretts Meadow. Paths include boardwalks and unsurfaced sections; some boardwalks have steps, and several kissing gates and V-stiles cross the reserve. Check current conditions before travelling.
Check before visiting
Parking
No parking is available on Burnt House Lane or within the reserve. Limited on-street parking is available on nearby roads; check local restrictions and availability. Sandown station is 2 miles away.
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Toilets
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Food & drink
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Dogs
Dogs must be kept on a lead. Follow on-site signs, including around grazing livestock.
Accessibility
Very gradual slopes, but paths are a mix of boardwalk and unsurfaced ground. The reserve has several kissing gates and V-stiles; some boardwalks have steps. The Trust says the squirrel hide is accessible all year. Wheelchair access across the reserve is not established by the supplied evidence.
Cost
Check before visiting
Check before visiting
Water
Eastern Yar river and wetland/floodplain habitats. No swimming or paddling permission is evidenced.
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Alverstone Mead
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
