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SHANKLIN CHINE 2

The Chine is famous for its flora and fauna. There are at least 150 varieties of wild plants and more than 50 species of moss and liverworts have so far been recorded, some of them extremely rare. Ferns, grasses, wild garlic, horsetails, golden saxifrage, wild fuchsia, winter-flowering heliotrope all grow here.  As well as the main 45 ft waterfall at the top some 105 ft above sea level there is a second 29 ft waterfall and with a large canopy of trees it is well sheltered in most parts of the Chine.

A small part of the 45ft waterfall can be seen.	The Chine Inn Above the chine near its end.	The Chine has a large canopy of trees which shelter the chine from a lot of light. This area was an exception.	The Chine Lodge and Heritage Center The Victorian Chine Lodge which adjoins The Heritage Center used to be called Honeymoon Cottage and was popular with newlyweds and at one time was the first school in Shanklin for the fishermen's children.

The Heritage Centre has numerous displays and a video running about construction of the PLUTO pipeline and the recent conservatory nicely extends and joins the two buildings.  There is also a Victorian Tea Garden and small gift shop.  If you have children and fancy a challenge for a few pence you can purchase a nature trail booklet at any entrance.  This gives a bit of information about some of the plants that can be found but also challenges you to find several amongst the Chine.  We spent ages last year looking for the Horsetail plant!

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