LAXEY is just absolutely full of bugs! And kids just love them!

Young bug hunters found loads of creepy crawlies in and around the glen at the Great Laxey Wheel on a Manx National Heritage “Bug Hunt” and it was a real winner with the children.

MNH ran two workshops to teach young bug hunters all about how to identify bugs and insects that they found and where to find them in the future.

The sessions were run by Kate Hawkins, Curator for Natural History, and Anthea Young, Education Officer at Manx National Heritage, and the event was planned as a contribution towards the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity.

Wildlife organisations throughout the Isle of Man are collaborating to mark this year with a series of guided walks, wildlife festivals, conservation action groups and other activities to raise awareness of the species and habitats we can all enjoy and the biological systems upon which we depend.

“The children found some fantastic creatures under rocks, in the vegetation, and amongst stones in the river,” said Kate Hawkins. “We found spiders, mayflies, stoneflies, slugs, moths, butterflies and beetles, including a magnificent green tiger beetle.”

Highlights also included seeing the cave spiders in the adit, accessible to the public, and visiting the wild honeybee nest at the engine house. The children were encouraged to look at different habitats and to let the animals go where they found them afterwards.

•   Other events are being run by Manx National Heritage to contribute to the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity. A rock-pooling session for children at Niarbyl takes place on August 6th and gives participants a chance to delve into the secret world of the seashore. Bookings are being taken now as there are limited spaces available. Tickets are ?5, available at the Manx Museum.

For more information on this and other Manx National Heritage events see www.storyofmann.com.