Western Yar

The River Yar on the Isle of Wight, England, rises near the beach at Freshwater Bay, on the south coast, and flows only a few miles north to Yarmouth where it meets the Solent. Most of the river is a tidal estuary. Its headwaters have been truncated by erosion of the south coast.

Western Yar
The Western Yar from the Yar Bridge at Yarmouth.
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Freshwater
Mouth
• location	Solent

The estuary from Freshwater to Yarmouth is part of the island's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It contains important habitats, including saltmarsh, reedbeds, mud flats and sand dunes. These host a rich abundance of wildlife, particularly over-wintering wildfowl and waders.

The Yar estuary is also a 132.4 hectare 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]

The Yar is one of two rivers of that name on the Isle of Wight. It is referred to as the Western Yar if it is necessary to distinguish between them.

River Yar at Freshwater, with the tower of All Saints' Church, Freshwater visible above the trees.

See also

• Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

References

1. "Yar Estuary citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
2. "Map of Yar Estuary". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
3. "Freshwater Marshes citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
4. "Map of Freshwater Marshes". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
5. "Afton Marshes". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
6. "Map of Afton Marshes". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 3 August 2013.