The Isle of Man’s rich natural environments, including its countryside, glens, hills, and coastal waters, come alive during Manx Wildlife Week. This annual celebration promotes connections between people and the island’s plants, animals, and habitats through a packed program of over 25 events.
Manx National Heritage (MNH) coordinates the week, uniting experts and volunteers from local conservation organizations to offer hands-on experiences like beach cleans, birdwatching, guided walks, workshops, lectures, and macro-photography outings.
History and Growth of the Event
Manx Wildlife Week began in 2018, tied to the launch of an online wildlife atlas. Laura McCoy, MNH’s curator of natural history, explained that abundant online data exists, but “launching a website is a little bit boring.” The team decided to spotlight the behind-the-scenes efforts of groups gathering that information.
McCoy highlighted the event’s rising popularity: it has “gained momentum,” with increasing numbers of partners investing time and collaboration.
Suitable for All Ages and Interests
The program mixes creative, scientific, and recreational activities to appeal broadly. McCoy described it as “a mixture of creative pursuits, scientific pursuits [and] also just fun.” She noted its inclusivity: “It’s about all ages – so the kids can enjoy it, but also adults, if they’re a little bit more serious.” Options range from casual nature walks to in-depth studies, drawing hundreds of participants yearly.
Event Schedule
Saturday
- Bee trail drop-in with Friends of the Earth (FoE) at the Green Centre in Douglas, 10:00-16:00 BST (free)
- Birds of the coast for young birders with the Manx Ornithological Society at Scarlett, 10:00-12:00 (free)
- Wildlife Obstacle Course with Manx Wildlife Trust (MWT) at the Children’s Centre, 10:00-11:30
- Secrets of the Shore – sharks, skates, rays and more with MWT at The Vollan, North Ramsey Beach, 12:30-14:00 (free)
- Nature’s Apothecary with the Manx Herbalist at the Wellbeing Garden in St John’s, 14:00-15:30
Sunday
- How to Battle Invasive Plants with Friends of the Neb at The Raggat, 11:00-12:00 (free)
Tuesday
- Behind the Scenes Tour of Natural History Collections with MNH at the Manx Museum, 11:00-12:30 (free)
Wednesday
- Macro-photography: A technical field walk at the Ballaugh Curragh, 9:30-12:30
- A Walk Through Time – Our peatlands past and future with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) at Beinn-y-Phott, 10:30-12:30 (free)
- Minibeast hunt with MWT at the Onchan Community Wetlands, 15:30-17:30 (free)
- Managing your garden for fungi with the IoM Fungus Group at the iMuseum, 19:00-20:00 (free)
- Nocturnal Nature with Manx BirdLife at the Langness Nature Reserve, 20:00-22:00
Thursday
- Rockpooling for all ages with MWT at Douglas Beach, Summer Hill Road, 16:00-18:30 (free)
- Nest Monitoring on the Ayres NNR with DEFA at the MWT’s Ayres Nature Discovery Centre, 18:30-20:00 (free)
- Rainforest under construction guided walk with MWT at the Glion Darragh Nature Reserve in West Baldwin, 18:00-20:00 (free)
Friday
- Morning Birdsong with Manx BirdLife at the Tynwald National Park and Arboretum, 08:00-10:00
- Wildflower Seed Papermaking workshop with MNH at the Manx Museum, 11:00-12:30
Saturday 2 May
- Wetland Wonders with the Invertebrate Group at the Curragh Wildlife Park, drop-in 11:00-15:00
- Garden advice for very wet and dry with FoE at the Green Centre in Douglas, drop-in 10:00-16:00 (free)
- Spring Walk with the Manx Bat Group in Silverdale Glen, 20:30-22:00 (free)
Sunday 3 May
- Dawn chorus mindfulness morning and concert with MWT at Ballaugh Old Church, 05:15-08:00 (free)
- Meditation and Guided Walk with MWT in Onchan Wetlands, 10:00-11:30 (free)
Monday 4 May
- Seawatch with the Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch at The Sound, 11:00-13:00 (free)
- Get to know your terns with the DEFA’s Ayres Warden at MWT’s Ayres Nature Discovery Centre, 14:30-15:30 (free)
