Manx Wildlife Week 'to honour conservation groups'

A week of events is set to take place on the Isle of Man to "draw attention" to the valuable work done by Manx conservation groups, one of the programme's organisers has said.

The annual Manx Wildlife Week, which began in 2017, will this year run from Saturday until 5 May and feature 40 events across the island.

Organised by Manx National Heritage (MNH), activities include bat walks, dolphin watching at the Sound, peat restoration, and the removal of the invasive Pacific oyster species.

Laura McCoy, curator of natural history at the MNH, said the week was a "great opportunity to meet experts" and gain "insight" into the island's wildlife.

Having a "closer connection to where we live can always add something to our day-to-day lives", she said.

The week, which is run in partnership with Manx Wildlife Trust and Unesco Biosphere Isle of Man, aims to enable the public to learn more about the island's wildlife, landscapes and biodiversity.

Most of the week's activities are free to attend. While some are "drop-in" events, others have to be booked in advance.

The 40 events include guided walks, evening talks, and practical workshops from a variety of the island's wildlife and conservation organisations.

Many who work on nature projects on the island are "unsung heroes", said Ms McCoy, who said it was "important to draw attention to all the wonderful work carried out by conservation groups that support the island's biodiversity".

She added: "We truly appreciate everyone getting involved and hope you will join us in exploring, discovering and supporting our wonderful Manx nature."

Some of the weeks events are drop-in while others need to be booked.

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