Staff from PricewaterhouseCoopers, the firm of chartered accountants based in Douglas and a Silver Corporate member of the Manx Wildlife Trust, have recently been busy working on a major community project at the Ayres with the nature conservation charity. More than 70 of the firm’s staff were generously made available to assist the Trust over a period of 7 working days. Under the supervision of Ayres Warden, Erica Spencer and Manx Wildlife Trust Director, Duncan Bridges, the teams carried out a wide range of practical tasks, including: painting the Trust’s Visitor Centre – both inside and out, replacing a number of the wooden stobs around the reserve, rebuilding and painting the steps leading from the dunes to the beach, redefining the nature trail, carrying out beach cleans from Smeale to a point approximately 1 mile north of the Visitor Centre, tidying up the boardwalk and rebuilding the bug hibernacular (or bug hotel!) located in amongst the pine trees. Working in all weathers, ranging from horizontal rain to brilliant sunshine, everyone was fully committed to their tasks. Commenting on the teams’ efforts, Erica Spencer said, “It has been an absolute pleasure having so many enthusiastic and hard-working people helping us here at the Ayres. They’ve all been happy to literally roll their sleeves up and muck in and I’m absolutely delighted with everything they have done for us.” PricewaterhouseCoopers has a tradition of providing both practical and financial support to local charities and for a number of years has got involved with various community projects around the Island, including helping to create the mountain bike track at South Barrule and assisting with the Crossroads Young Carers’ summer camps at St Johns. PricewaterhouseCoopers Senior Partner, Ian Clague, said, “We’re very pleased to have been able to help the Manx Wildlife Trust with so many tasks at the Ayres this year. As well as contributing towards the charity’s work in a practical way, our staff have had the opportunity to learn new skills in a particularly beautiful part of the Island which we are keen to help protect.” The Manx Wildlife Trust’s Visitor Centre at the Ayres lies within an important stretch of low lying sand dune coastline that stretches from Cronk-y-Bing to the Point of Ayre. The area is of major ecological significance, parts having been designated as an Area of Special Scientific Interest and as a National Nature Reserve. The Trust has a well-established Visitor Centre and nature trail here to increase public understanding of this vulnerable area and to provide information about its birds, habitats and rare plant communities. For more details please visit the Trust’s website www.manxwt.org.uk. Ends