Manx Wildlife Trust Experience

Monday - 17 June 

A private boat trip to and around the Manx National Heritage owned Calf of Man, a small island off the south coast of the Isle of Man, which is of international importance to wildlife. The bird observatory houses a team of Manx Wildlife Trust wardens and volunteers who look after the islet and its wildlife. You will stop at the Calf to visit the Bird Observatory and experience hands on bird research with our senior ornithological warden, Aron Sapford before taking a guided boat trip around the island to witness the spectacle of the many hundreds of seabirds breeding around the Calf’s coastline.

About Aron Sapford – Aron has a long-standing association with the Calf of Man, having originally been employed as assistant warden in 1988 and returning as warden in 1989 & 1990. He has been involved with several local bird studies, working for the Manx Chough project and then as co-founder and scientific officer for the charity Manx Bird Atlas, as well as now being the longest serving Calf warden.

Please note this trip is subject to suitable weather and marine conditions.

Tuesday - 18 June

Morning

The makings of a temperate rainforest - a guided hike around Manx Wildlife Trust’s Creg y Cowin Nature reserve, where the Trust envisions the planting of around 35,000 trees over the next five years. Over the decades and centuries these will re-form patches of temperate rainforest (Atlantic Woodlands), which would have been the dominant landcover for the Manx uplands for thousands of years before the landscape evolved.

Afternoon

A tour of the Manx BirdLife Point of Ayre National Reserve

Manx BirdLife are transforming a once bleak, industrial landscape into a thriving new refuge for Manx wildlife. In 2019, Island Aggregates granted Manx BirdLife a long-term lease to manage their exhausted quarries at the Point of Ayre to create a new nature reserve. In partnership with Island Aggregates and RSPB, Manx BirdLife will create a diverse mix of habitat including freshwater lagoons, shallow ponds and extensive areas of mixed dry scrub, all of which will provide important habitats for a wide range of wildlife.

While the restoration work has only just begun, nature is already making a comeback with the reserve already showcasing a diverse range of flora and fauna. Already, some 200 species of bird have been recorded on site, but it’s not just about the birds with rare clouded yellow butterflies, a fantastic array of orchid species and dragonflies like Black-tailed skimmers (which, when 2 males appeared on newly created dragonfly pools in 2023 it was just the 2nd record for that species on the Island) also being recorded.

Evening

Manx Bat Group bat walk. Watch bats emerge from their roost at sunset followed by a boardwalk stroll through the woods and back to the boating pond to see Daubenton’s feeding.

Meeting at 9.15pm for a ½ walk to a bat roost for sunset at 9.45pm

Wednesday 19 June

Morning

A two-hour wildlife photography session at a MWT community led nature reserve, delivered for digital SLR cameras, but can be adapted to smart phones.

Your Guide, Clare Payne – Manx Wildlife Trust marine assistant. Clare is a keen scuba diver, a passionate artist and an advocate of art conservation and was the inaugural MWT biosphere artist in residence.

Afternoon

A two-hour guided walk and talk at flagship MWT reserve Close Sartfield to see the outstanding display of thousands of orchids.

Your Guide, Tricia Sayle – Manx Wildlife Trust reserves manager with 25 years’ experience of working at Close Sartfield.

Thursday - 20 June

Morning

Peel Wildlife Walk. A gentle 1.5-hour stroll around Peel harbour, outside of the castle and historic town centre, with a chance to visit the MWT sustainable gift shop. Your guide will help you look out for black guillemots, Atlantic Seals and great black backed gulls.

Your Guide - Manx Wildlife Trust Community Ranger, Hannah Phillips.

Afternoon

A nature friendly farming tour. See the Island’s oldest tree, the world’s largest rare-breed Loaghtan sheep flock, a river rewilding project, hay meadows and meet the farmers committed to nature friendly farming for the future. Includes a trip to the wool shop.

Evening

Birds of the Isle of Man supper talk.

Friday - 21 June

Morning

Guided walk of The sound and the Chasms, Located on the southernmost tip of the Island, experience stunning views across to the Calf of Man, enjoy refreshments in the café with its panoramic views. This area is a popular destination and a great place to spot seals.

Afternoon (4 - 5pm)

Seawatch between The Sound and Port St Mary. A one hour sealife spotting session with local experts from Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch.

Saturday - 22 June

Morning 

Optional self-guided walk to Scarlett Nature Discovery Centre at Scarlett Point, Castletown.

Or free time before the journey home.