Nature reserves
Manx Wildlife Trust manage a number of nature reserves around the Island which aer open to the general public.
Cooildarry, Kirk Michael
Cooildarry is a deep wooded valley which forms the upper part of Glen Wyllin. The land in the area is covered with thick deposits of glacial drift. The Cooildarry Glen tributary is still cutting into these deposits, the Ballalonna stream however has completely cut through the drift and runs in a series of waterfalls over its ancient bed of Manx slates. More information...
Close Sartfield, Ballaugh
Close Sartfield is one of the MWT's larger reserves and is part of the Ballaugh Curragh, the Island's premier wetland. The reserve derives its name from the fact that it was an enclosure ("close") rented over a long period by the owners of Sartfield farm in the neighbouring parish of Jurby whose home fields were often very dry in summer so that meadow hay from the damp Curragh fields was valued as a fodder supplement. More information...
Curragh Kiondroghad, Onchan
The reserve is a green oasis hemmed in by houses only two minutes walk from the shopping centre in Onchan. There is a boardwalk suitable for wheelchairs. Nearly one hundred species of flowering plants flourish ranging from wetland to woodland varieties. The wetlands are dominated by willows, mainly common sallow with some white willow near the entrance. Other plants in the wetland include marsh marigold, yellow flag, reed canary grass, hemlock water-dropwort, woody nightshade and cuckoo flower. More information...
Breagle Glen, Port Erin
This reserve is one of only two urban reserves owned by the MWT. The property consists of a portion of a small valley with a stream and an elevated area of grass and shrubs on one side of it. The grassland alongside the pavement is regularly mown but an area beyond is left to grow between late April and August. After the plants have flowered the grass is cut and the "hay" removed. More information...
Cronk y Bing, Andreas
Cronk y Bing is bounded by the Lhen Trench, the high water mark and the track from the Lhen Bridge to the shore. It is situated near the southern tip of the Ayres, an area of unique heathland and sand dune. Cronk y Bing has one of the widest strips of yellow dune on the Island. More information...
The Purt, Ballaugh
The Purt lies in the remote and deserted valley of Glen Dhoo near the confluence of tributary streams. This section of the valley is hemmed in by the steep slopes of Slieau Curn, Slieau Dhoo and the area of Ballaugh Plantation. More information...
Earystane Nature Reserve, Colby
The site of Earystane Nature Reserve was originally part of Ballachrink ("hill farm" in Manx Gaelic) and was sold to Arbory Parish Commissioners for use as a tip. Tipping ceased about thirty years ago; half the site had been used. More information...
Dalby Mountain Moorland, Patrick
Dalby Mountain Moorland is traditional heath moorland, sandwiched between two conifer plantations and bisected by the A27 public road. It comprises 5% of the Island's wet heath. The wet heath is dominated by heather, purple moor grass and rushes with locally abundant bog asphodel. More information...
Acknowledgements: Manx Wildlife Trust