Organised by the Friends of the Curraghs Wildlife Park, a group of staff from Manx Telecom’s Finance team is carrying out vital conservation management work on one of the Isle of Man’s most important nature conservation sites on 14th and 15th September 2016.
An area of the Curraghs Wildlife Park forms part of the Ballaugh Curraghs Site of Special Scientific Interest and it was designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 2006.
The work involves removing willow and poplar trees, to allow heather and other plants to regenerate, helping to maintain the rich biodiversity of the site including orchids, lizards and many unusual bog loving plants.
The team explained their work to His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Richard Gozney and Lady Gozney who visited the Park on 14th September.
Chairperson of the Friends of the Curraghs Wildlife Park, Mrs Kim Etherton, said: “It may seem strange that removing trees should be such an important conservation management tool but it is. We are enormously grateful to the Manx Telecom team for tackling this vital task and contributing to the conservation of this important area. The Friends arrange a variety of company work party experiences at the Curraghs Wildlife Park and we welcome applications to get involved and make a difference.”
Gary Lamb, Manx Telecom CEO, said: “We are always proud to support organisations such as the Curraghs Wildlife Park which do so much good work to maintain the Island’s natural environment. It’s a pride which is reflected by the enthusiasm of our finance department staff in supporting this important project.”
Samantha Robinson, Finance Product Partner at Manx Telecom, commented: “The main aim of this initiative is to take time out of our normal working day to volunteer for a meaningful local cause and to promote team building across our finance department. A list of local charities was drawn up, and everyone in the department voted on which one they would like to help. The Curraghs Wildlife Park was the resounding winner, and we are very much looking forward to working with the Park on this conservation project.”
Kathleen Graham, the Park’s General Manager, commented: “There are very few wildlife collections which have such an important conservation area on site. Visitors can currently walk through the area but we plan new and exciting interpretation to help everyone enjoy and understand this unique environment. Whilst we contribute to the conservation of rare and endangered species from around the world, we also have a part to play in conserving Manx wildlife and their habitats too.”
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