Introduce Your Hometown: The Isle of Wight

Hi folks! Harriet here, and I'm about to tell you a bunch of interesting stuff about my hometown... The Isle of Wight!

Here's a collage I did of the Isle of Wight to give to my partner when he was moving to London. I just love the shape of the island - it looks like a diamond!

So, to get us started here are a few fun facts about the Isle of Wight that you might not know:

• The Isle of Wight is nicknamed 'dinosaur island' because of how many dinosaur fossils have been discovered here: 25 different ones!
• The Isle of Wight has lots of quirky little events, including 'The Garlic Festival'.
• Bear Grylls was born here!

FESTIVALS

It's also known for its festivals, and it's easy to see why. The Isle of Wight Festival has a history of hosting Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney. I've been going to this festival most years since I was a teenager, and some of my personal highlights include The Killers, The Kaiser Chiefs, and The Police. I also have loved performing there myself, both doing fire circus performing and gigs with my Ukulele Orchestera whilst in school.

Last year I also went to the Isle of Wight's last ever Bestival, dressed up for the Space theme. My favourite part of this one was seeing The Cure.

THINGS TO DO

But the island is probably known best for its plethora of beauty spots, but these vary massively. If you want to see Royal, fancy beauty then look no further than Osbourne House, the Royal home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The gardens there are perhaps the most beautiful of all.

There are also smaller castles - this is one that I actually worked in! It was a little cafe and shop that sold coffee, cake, fossils and crystals. I loved it. We had all sorts of odd things like fossilised dinosaur poo! (The kids loved seeing that!)

There are lots of little quirky things to do, from painting pottery, to going for a ride in the swan boats on the local lake!

EXPLORING

Or if you're more into the rural way of life, there are plenty of forests and beaches, both public and hidden.

It's always a good idea to explore - here is a photo of a beach that me and my friends got to by kayak.

I think the most amazing thing about living on the Isle of Wight is how much you fall in love with it, and I really think this can be summed up by this quote from Jane Austen in Mansfield Park:

'She thinks of nothing but the Isle of Wight, and she calls it the Island, as if there were no other island in the world'.

If you're ever close by, give the island a visit.