Culver Down
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| Culver Down | |
|---|---|
 The Yarborough Monument on Culver Down |
|
| Elevation | 104 m (341 ft) |
| Location | Isle of Wight, England |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 196} |
| OS grid reference | SZ631856 |
Culver Down is a chalk down to the north of Sandown, Isle of Wight.
The down has a typical chalk downland wildlife on the uncultivated areas (generally the southern and eastern slopes). This includes plants such as Small Scabious, Harebell, Cowslip and Lady's Bedstraw. The chalk cliffs to the north and east are important nesting places for seabirds.
The northern side is intensively grazed by cattle, so fertilization and poaching of the soil, not to mention a spell as an artillery training ground, have all but eliminated the natural chalk ecosystem.
On Culver Down a number of unusual ant species live, including the semi-myrmecophilous Solenopsis fugax (Latr.), a thief ant which was recorded there several times by Horace Donisthorpe. The ant Ponera coarctata has also been taken from this location.
The public parts of this prominent headland are owned and managed by the National Trust. Spectacular views of the English Channel can be had.
For many years the whole site was a military zone and not open to the public. There are several historic military features on the down, a number of private dwellings, the Culver Haven pub, and the very visible Monument.
[edit] The Earl of Yarborough Monument
The monument is sometimes described as the Earl of Marlborough monument, which is wrong, or the Lord Yarborough monument, which is accurate, but was not his full title at the time of his death, and is not the title given on the monument. It is in fact a memorial to Charles Anderson-Pelham, the 2nd Baron Yarborough (later first Earl of Yarborough and also Baron Worsley), founder of the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes. The different titles this gentleman held have led to confusion; but the inscription on the monument is primarily to him in his capacity as the Earl of Yarborough.
