Now the estuary is Welcome to the Medina Estuary home to a wide range of marine The Medina Estuary has a wonderfully interesting related character made up of a rich maritime heritage, industries such as wealth of natural habitats and vibrant mix of sailmakers, recreation, transportation and industry. boat building and Estuaries are extremely productive ecosystems and the Medina is no Local marine industries repair, chandlers and exception. Its mudflats are crammed full of snails, shellfish, shrimps and grew up around the Medina engineers. It is the only marine worms. These provide food for a variety of wading birds which prospered from place on the Island that and waterfowl including dunlin, redshank, curlew, black-tailed strong trading links with handles bulk cargo - about godwit, dark-bellied brent goose, shelduck, wigeon and teal. the North American 600,000 tonnes a year. Oystercatchers and mute swans are seen all year round. colonies in the 17th century. Goods cleared customs Perhaps the most The estuary's in East Cowes before famous part of birds are all being redistributed to the Medina adapted to their other ports on the estuary is own diet so mainland and the Cowes. In Over 40 different large numbers continent. In the 18th the early species of marine of different century East Cowes 1800s the first worm have been species can live began to build its organised yacht races in recorded here! together. They reputation as a major Britain were established have specially shipbuilding centre. here, royal patronage evolved beaks followed and, ever since, to help them take advantage of the food living in the Cowes has been an mud. Wading birds with long bills such as curlew internationally renowned The Medina estuary is such and redshank probe deep venue for yachting. In the an important area for into the mud for lugworms and summer particularly, the nature conservation that ragworms. Birds with shorter estuary mouth is bustling it is protected by six bills rely on the small creatures with activity and Cowes different designations under that live near the surface. Week in August attracts national and international law. nearly 10,000 visitors a Although yachting has a day to watch the racing high profile in the Medina, Saltmarsh is made up of different and soak up the shore-side the estuary also supports plants that are well adapted to the changing conditions atmosphere. From source to sea the a wide range of other of life on the shore. They have to deal with saltwater, River Medina is 17km activities from bird freshwater, hot sunshine, wind, waves long and rises as chalk watching, walking and To make sure the estuary and the movement of the mud they springs from St cycling to is healthy enough to grow in. They are very vulnerable to Catherine's Down on the kayaking, support such a wide pressure from trampling or landing/ south of the Island. As it angling, learning to variety of activities in the launching, excessive wash from boats and flows north it collects water from sail or just enjoying future there needs to be

2 natural change such as sea level rise. an area over 70km . being by the water. some co-ordination!

k u . o c . t n i r p s s o r c . w w w y b d e t n i r P

. ) t c e j o r p s e i r a u t s e t h g i W f o e l s I ( y e l w a H e u S y b t p e c n o c n g i s e D

O . s n o o t r a C d e h S g n i t t o P t a e w o R n a l A y b k r o w t r a l a n i g i r

: y b d e t r o p p u S

s r e n o i s s i m m o C

r u o b r a H h t u o m r a Y

. s e i r a u t s e r a Y

n r e t s e W e h t d n a a n i d e M e h t r o f s n a l p t n e m e g a n a m y r a u t s e

e h t f o n o i t a t n e m e l p m i e h t n i s t s i s s a d n a s e e s r e v o y l t n e r r u c

t c e j o r p e h T . s r e n o i s s i m m o C r u o b r a H h t u o m r a Y d n a l i c n u o C

H t h g i W f o e l s I e h t , e t a t s E n w o r C e h t , n o i s s i m m o C r u o b r a

s e w o C , y c n e g A t n e m n o r i v n E e h t , d n a l g n E l a r u t a N y b d e d n u f

d n a d e t r o p p u s t c e j o r p p i h s r e n t r a p a s i t I . s e s s e c o r p d n a

s e r u t a e f e n i r a u t s e f o g n i d n a t s r e d n u p o l e v e d d n a p i h s r e n t r a p

h g u o r h t s e i r a u t s e s ' d n a l s I e h t f o e s u d e t a r g e t n i e h t e t a n i d r o

- o c d n a e t o m o r p o t s m i a t c e j o r p s e i r a u t s e t h g i W f o e l s I e h T

. t s u r T 0 0 0 2 d n a l s I e h t m o r f

e c n a t s i s s a d n a t r o p p u s d n a s e d a l B s a t s e V

B m o r f n o i t u b i r t n o c a h t i w e m e h c s d r a w a f f i

e h t h g u o r h t d e d n u f n e e b s a h t e l f a e l s i h T

s e i r a u t s e / m o c . t h g i w i . w w w e t i s b e w

e h t t u o k c e h c s e i r a u t s e r e h t o d n a

a n i d e M e h t t u o b a e r o m t u o d n i f o T

• . e l p o e p r e h t o r e d i s n o C

. m e h t d n i f

• u o y s a y t r e p o r p d n a s e t a g e v a e L

• . s n g i s y n a w o l l o f d n a d a e h a n a l p - e f a s e B

• . l o r t n o c e s o l c r e d n u s g o d p e e K

• . e m o h r e t t i l r u o y e k a t d n a , s l a m i n a d n a s t n a l p t c e t o r P

- . e v i t i s n e s y r e v s i t i

• h s r a m t l a s e h t n o g n i k l a w r o g n i d n a l , g n i h c n u a l d i o v A

: y r a u t s E a n i d e M e h t

f o e f i l d l i w e h t t c e t o r p o t p l e h d n a

e d o c e d i s y r t n u o c e h t w o l l o f e s a e l P Medina Estuary circular walk

The Medina Estuary circular walk is approximately 9 miles/ 14km long and at a fairly brisk pace can be completed in approximately For more information 4 hours. about the heritage of East Cowes and Cowes Medina is the see 'The Cowes Boat Latinised form of Trail' leaflet on the Gift its Saxon name to Nature website. 'Medene' meaning 'middle river'.

The Medina is home to many different creatures but is a key spot for wading birds and waterfowl, especially in the winter. Keep an eye out for little egret, oystercatchers, curlew, black tailed godwits, grey herons and redshank.

The tree lined cycleway is a great place to catch a glimpse of red squirrels. Many of the birds Please take care - particularly have travelled on the paths closest to the thousands of miles estuary - they may be muddy! and are using the estuary as a stopping Look out for the blades! A feature of the off point to rest on estuary since 2000, Vestas ( ) transports the banks at high tide its wind turbine blades on a specially or stocking up with designed barge which causes very little food at low tide. wash and therefore less disturbance to the Please keep dogs on river banks and the wildlife. leads in these areas.

The cycleway along the old railway line is very popular so look and listen out for cyclists!

Newport rowing club headquarters ( ) has been here since 1863.

Newport was a flourishing port by the 15th century.

In 1862 the first of the Island's railways was opened between Cowes and Newport. This was a key feature in the development of the Medina as a major waterway for trade and transport. The railway lasted just over 100 years and was closed in 1966. Key to features

UK Sailing Academy Also known as The Ryde Queen, the Medina Valley Centre paddle steamer 'Ryde' ( ) was built in 1937 and Vestas Blades her varied history includes service as a minesweeper, an Newport Rowing Club anti-aircraft vessel, a ferry, a disco and a hotel! Bargeman's Rest (PH)

Quay Arts Centre To make the route circular, use the chain Jubilee Stores ferry or 'floating bridge' ( ) which runs throughout the day and is free to foot Bus Museum passengers and cyclists. Classic Boat Museum Medina Quay The route is public footpath, cycleway and roadside (PH) pavement. There are a few stretches around Newport Paddle Quay and north of Whippingham Church that have no steamer 'Ryde' pavement so please take special care in these areas. Island Harbour

Folly Inn (PH) Whippingham Church The Floating Bridge The Lifeboat (PH)

East Cowes Marina

The Heritage Centre Please remember to wear suitable footwear!