Historic landscapes on the Isle of Wight

The Island’s Historic Landscapes are all around us and contain the sites, settlements, fields, lanes and roads, houses and landscapes which survive from every period of our human past.

The Isle of Wight Historic Environment Action Plan draws on the programmes of Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) carried out by Vicky Basford. The HLC covers the whole Island and consists of a digital map displaying HLC types which represent the historic dimensions of the present day landscape.



The Isle of Wight HEAP Project commenced in June 2006 and the reports were completed by the end of March 2008.

Drawing on the successful model of the Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan, the Isle of Wight HEAP has used a partnership approach and has established a Steering Group to oversee the preparation of the plan.

The Isle of Wight HEAP identifies areas of importance for archaeology, the historic landscape and the historic built environment and sets out strategies for their local management.

A key aim of the Isle of Wight HEAP is to promote community understanding, conservation, and management of the historic environment. The Project Officer has worked to make information on the historic environment available to local councillors, countryside managers, planners and the wider community. The work of the HEAP also included the promotion and support of specific community action projects connected with the historic environment.