The Isle of Man’s unique natural environment is set to be celebrated in the fifth annual Manx Wildlife Week, which takes place at venues across the Isle of Man from 3rd to 11th July 2021.
Organised by Manx National Heritage (MNH), in association with Manx Wildlife Trust (MWT), Manx Wildlife Week offers the opportunity to learn about the Isle of Man’s outstanding natural landscapes, biodiversity and wildlife.
This year events include; bat walks, snorkel safaris, guided walks, bug hunts, rock-pooling, zoom talks, lectures, wildflower seed paper making and kids craft drop-in and storytelling sessions. Most events are free and at locations throughout the Island so there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Laura McCoy, Curator of Natural History for MNH said:
“Manx Wildlife Week is a great opportunity to explore and find out about our lovely Island while meeting the people who help monitor and protect the wild spaces and living creatures within it”.
Manx Wildlife Week began as a celebration of the Isle of Man joining the National Biodiversity Network, with its own dedicated site https://isleofman.nbnatlas.org/. The database includes over one million biological records and is a great place to find out about the wildlife of the Isle of Man. The records are freely searchable by the public. More than 8,200 species are currently recorded with more still to find!
Leigh Morris, Chief Executive of MWT said:
“Manx Wildlife Trust are delighted to once again be contributing to Manx Wildlife Week with several of our team delivering talks and running events, ranging from bug hunts and rock pooling sessions, to upland peat surveying! We signed a memorandum of understanding with MNH in 2020 and as a development of our joint working, it is fantastic that MWT are now a designated partner in Manx Wildlife Week”.
Laura continued:
“We extend our thanks to all those who have made this year’s event possible, for their help engaging with the public, sharing the wonders of the natural world and inspiring people to enjoy the Manx countryside, learn more about our Island Biosphere and respect our planet”.
All events for Manx Wildlife Week are pre-bookable with limited places available. Bookings information is available on www.manxnationalheritage.im/whats-on.
ENDS
Manx Wildlife Week Events:
| Date | Event | Location |
| Sat 3 July | ||
| Himalayan Balsam Walk with the Friends of the Neb, 11am – 12pm | The Raggatt, Peel | |
| Bats at Silverdale with the Manx Bat Group, 9:45pm | Silverdale | |
| Sun 4 July | ||
| Snorkel Safari with Discover Diving, 9:30am | Port St. Mary | |
| The delights of rock-pooling with Manx Wildlife Trust, 1pm – 2:30pm | Douglas Beach | |
| Be a Curraghs Explorer at the Curraghs Wildlife Park, 9:30am – 4pm | Curraghs Wildlife Park | |
| Be a Curraghs Bird Explorer walk and talk, 11:30am and 1:30pm | Curraghs Wildlife Park | |
| Mon 5 July | ||
| Manx Wildlife Trust Tynwald Day bug hunt, 1pm – 2pm and 3pm – 4pm | Tynwald Fair | |
| Tue 6 July | ||
| Surveying the Peatlands with the Manx Wildlife Trust, 10am – 12pm | TBC | |
| Walk with the Warden at the new Manx BirdLife Reserve at the Point of Ayre, 10am | Manx Bird Life Point of Ayre National Reserve | |
| Manx Wildlife Trust, Hedgehog tunnels, 6pm – 7:30pm | iMuseum Building | |
| Discover whale, dolphin and porpoise species that inhabit the seas of the Isle of Man, 7 – 8pm | Zoom | |
| Whales and Dolphins of the Isle of Man, Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch, 7pm | Zoom | |
| Weds 7 July | ||
| An Online Talk with MWT Calf Warden, Aron Sapsford | Zoom | |
| Thu 8 July | ||
| A Walk on the Wildlife Side with Manx Footpath Conservation Group, 1:30 – 3pm | Hango Hill, Castletown | |
| Nature Through A Lens with UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man, 7pm | Manx Museum Lecture Theatre | |
| Fri 9 July | ||
| Manx Birdlife Parent and Toddler story time, 2pm – 3pm | Ward Library, Peel | |
| Wildflower Seed Paper Making Workshop – Friends of Manx National Heritage, 10am – 12pm | Manx Museum | |
| Getting Closer to Nature with Manx National Heritage | The Ayres Nature Discovery Centre | |
| Sat 10 July | ||
| A Walk on the Wildlife Side with the Manx Footpath Conservation Group, 10am – 4pm | Sheep Pens, Brandywell Road | |
| Litter and its impact on our Biosphere. What can we do about it? 10:30 – 11:30am | Mann Waste Recycling plant, Douglas | |
| Wildlife Walk with Ayres Warden Louise Samson, 10am | The Ayres Nature Discovery Centre | |
| Wildlife on the Calf of Man: A Public Lecture, 4pm | Manx Museum, Lecture Theatre | |
| Wildlife on the Calf of Man: A Virtual Lecture, 4pm | Zoom | |
| Wildflower Seed Paper Making Workshop, 10am – 12pm and 2pm – 3pm | Manx Museum | |
| Invertebrates in the farm and coastal landscape | Cregneash | |
| Discover Diving Snorkel Safari, 5pm | Gansey, Eel Grass Bed | |
| Sun 11 July | ||
| Discover Diving Snorkel Safari, 10am | Port Erin Breakwater | |
| Seawatch from the Sound with Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch, 11am – 1pm | The Sound Car Park | |
| Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam with Friends of the Neb, 1:30 – 2:30pm | Foxdale Heritage Centre |