A TEAM of volunteers which works to maintain the Island's wildlife habitat has received a prestigious conservation award.

The Midweek Muckers has been awarded the Joint Nature Conservation Committee's Blue Turtle Award for nature conservation in the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. 

The team of volunteers meet twice a week and 'muck-in' to support to the Manx Wildlife Trust's nature reserves.

Ageing from 22 to 83, the Muckers work alongside the Trust's Reserves Officer Tricia Sayle.

She said: "The Muckers work with a smile throughout the year, week-in-week-out, and undertake the physical work needed to manage the Trust's reserves.

"Most years they complete over 2,000 hours of work and without them the Trust would not be able to protect its 255 acres of wildlife habitat and rich biodiversity for future generations."

Val Crane, the longest serving Mucker, has been working on the reserves for the last 20 years.

She said: "I enjoy working outdoors and it certainly keeps you fit, at any age! Where else could you find such great company, spending a morning with likeminded people, helping the environment and the Trust, and getting to know the reserves up close all year round."

The Muckers' first project was at Close Sartfield Nature Reserve, where five acres of gorse were transformed into a wildflower meadow.

The field now contains more than 100 species of wildflower including six species of protected orchid.

The volunteers also manage three other nature reserves, all of which form part of an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI), which also forms part of the Island's Ramsar site, the Ballaugh Curragh.

Natural Environment Minister Richard Benyon said: "This is an excellent example of a community literally 'mucking in' to protect their local wildlife. I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the team on this well-deserved award."      

JNCC's Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies Programme Manager Tony Weighell, one of award's judges, said: "I want to congratulate the Midweek Muckers for their efforts in maintaining the Isle of Man's nature reserves.

"There are many community volunteers in the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies helping to work towards a better environment and a greener future for future generations.

"This is exactly the sort of community-based activity that should be encouraged to conserve and manage biodiversity."