Western Yar
The River Yar is a short river of the Isle of Wight, in Hampshire. It rises near the beach at Freshwater Bay, on the south coast of the island and flows only a few miles north to Yarmouth, on the north coast, where it enters the Solent. Most of the river is a tidal estuary. Its headwaters have been truncated by erosion of the south coast.
The Yar is one of two rivers of that name on the Isle of Wight, a name presumed to come from the Old English ea, meaning "river". That of Yarmouth is referred to as the Western Yar if it is necessary to distinguish between them, and the other accordingly the Eastern Yar, which flows to Bembridge.
Wildlife and conservation
The Yar estuary is part of the 'Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty', which stretches from Freshwater to Yarmouth. The estuary consists of a number of important habitats, including saltmarsh, reedbeds, mud flats and sand dunes, and these in turn host a rich abundance of wildlife, particularly over-wintering wildfowl and waders.
The Yar estuary is also a 327.2-acre biological Site of Special Scientific Interest.[1][2] In addition the upper reaches of the river are designated an SSSI called 'Freshwater Marshes',[3][4] and a large part of Freshwater Marshes are also a Local Nature Reserve called 'Afton Marshes'.[5][6]
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Western Yar) |
- Location map: 50°4’13"N, 1°30’6"W
References
- ↑ "Yar Estuary citation". Natural England. http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000838.pdf. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ↑ "Map of Yar Estuary". Natural England. http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271000838%27. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ↑ "Freshwater Marshes citation". Natural England. http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1004406.pdf. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ↑ "Map of Freshwater Marshes". Natural England. http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271004406%27. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ↑ "Afton Marshes". Natural England. http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?C=0&N=afton&ID=1300. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ↑ "Map of Afton Marshes". Natural England. http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=REF_CODE%3D%271009512%27. Retrieved 3 August 2013.