Brighstone Forest is located in the southwest of the Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...

. It is the largest forest on the Isle of Wight, being just a few hectares larger than Parkhurst Forest

Parkhurst Forest

Parkhurst Forest is a woodland to the north-west of Newport, Isle of Wight .The site is partly a site of special scientific interest. It consists of both ancient woodland, relict heathland and plantation woodland. The woodland is freehold owned and managed by the Forestry Commission. It is 395...

. It is spread over a number of hilly ridges which form the backbone of the Isle of Wight. From west to east the ridges are Chessell Down, Westover Down

Westover Down

Westover Down is a chalk down on the Isle of Wight. It is located close to the village of Brook, in the southwest of the island, and rises to 205 metres at its highest point, northeast of the village....

, Brighstone Down

Brighstone Down

Brighstone Down is a chalk down on the Isle of Wight. It is located close to the village of Brighstone, in the southwest of the island , and rises to 214 metres at its highest point, northeast of the village of Mottistone....

, Newbarn Down, Rowborough Down and Idlecombe Down. The main entrance is located at grid reference SZ 419849. The forest lies close to the small town of Brighstone

Brighstone

Brighstone is a village and civil parish on the Isle of Wight, 6 miles southwest of Newport on the B3399 road. Brighstone was previously known as "Brixton"...

, and is part of the Isle of Wight AONB

Isle of Wight AONB

The Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Isle of Wight, England's largest offshore island....

.

Shalcombe Down is an outlying block of woodland to the west of Brighstone Forest.
The entrance to this block is located at grid reference SZ 395852.

Both woods are managed by the Forestry Commission

Forestry Commission

The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....

under leasehold agreements - the total area is 482 hectares.

External links

• http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/hunting/inquiry/evidence/wightcon.htm
• Forestry Commission management plan