Manx Wildlife Trust
Nature conservation charity in the Isle of Man
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Manx Wildlife Trust (MWT) was founded on 6 March 1973 and is the Isle of Man’s leading nature conservation charity.
As of April 2026, MWT manages 36 nature reserves, including the Calf of Man which is managed with and on behalf of Manx National Trust. These reserves total 1,056.82 ha (2,611.5 acres), or around 2% of the Isle of Man and include:
| Name | Acquired | Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aust | 2016 | 3.97 ha (9.8 acres) | |
| Ballachrink | 2011 | 10.42 ha (25.7 acres) | Part of the Renscault & Ballachrink Bird Sanctuary |
| Ballachurry | 2016 | 1.67 ha (4.1 acres) | |
| Ballamooar Meadow | 1994 | 0.40 ha (0.99 acres) | |
| Ballanoa | 2026 | 0.78 ha (1.9 acres) | |
| Barnell Reservoir | 1974 & 1984 | 1.63 ha (4.0 acres) | Part of the Ballamoar Bird Sanctuary (Patrick) |
| Billown | 2023 | 2.73 ha (6.7 acres) | Includes Rosehill Quarry ASSI |
| Breagle Glen & Cronk Aash | 1988, 1991 & 2010 | 0.85 ha (2.1 acres) | |
| Calf of Man | N/A | 262.34 ha (648.3 acres) | Owned by Manx National Trust, co-managed in partnership with Manx Wildlife Trust since 2006. Candidate Ramsar site and forms the "Calf of Man" Important Bird & Biodiversity Area |
| Close y Corvalley | 2026 | 2.18 ha (5.4 acres) | |
| Close e Quayle | 1994 & 2003 | 3.97 ha (9.8 acres) | |
| Close Sartfield | 1987 | 12.34 ha (30.5 acres) | Part of the Ballaugh Curraghs ASSI and Ramsar Site |
| Close Umpson | 1995, 2026 | 1.57 ha (3.9 acres) | Part of the Ballaugh Curraghs ASSI and Ramsar Site |
| Close y Vaillee | 2026 | 1.44 ha (3.6 acres) | Part of the Ballaugh Curraghs ASSI and Ramsar Site |
| Cooildarry | 1976 & 1979 | 7.77 ha (19.2 acres) | |
| Creg y Cowin | 2023 | 44.32 ha (109.5 acres) | |
| Creggans | 2025 | 19.02 ha (47.0 acres) | Part of the "Isle of Man Hills" Important Bird & Biodiversity Area |
| Cronk y Bing | 1989 | 7.26 ha (17.9 acres) | An Area of Special Scientific Interest |
| Curragh Feeagh | 1986 | 2.40 ha (5.9 acres) | |
| Curragh Kiondroghad (Onchan Community Wetlands) | 1988 & 1990 | 0.54 ha (1.3 acres) | |
| Dalby Mountain | 1995 & 2024 | 45.44 ha (112.3 acres) | Candidate Ramsar site, Part of the "Isle of Man Hills" Important Bird & Biodiversity Area |
| Dalby Mountain Fields | 1995 | 4.27 ha (10.6 acres) | Part of the "Isle of Man Hills" Important Bird & Biodiversity Area |
| Dobbie's Meadow | 2013 | 4.10 ha (10.1 acres) | |
| Earystane | 1998 | 0.67 ha (1.7 acres) | |
| Fell's Field | 1998 | 1.16 ha (2.9 acres) | |
| Glen Auldyn | 2025 | 455.22 ha (1,124.9 acres) | Part of the "Isle of Man Hills" Important Bird & Biodiversity Area |
| Glen Dhoo | 1995 | 10.04 ha (24.8 acres) | |
| Glion Darragh | 2024 | 74.23 ha (183.4 acres) | |
| Goshen | 1995, 1998, 2008 & 2023 | 18.93 ha (46.8 acres) | Part of Ballaugh Curraghs ASSI and Ramsar Site |
| Hairpin Woodland Park | 2019, 2022, 2024 & 2025 | 32.89 ha (81.3 acres) | |
| Lough Cranstal | 1989 & 2022 | 6.69 ha (16.5 acres) | Candidate Ramsar site |
| Lough Gat e Whing | 2016 | 1.45 ha (3.6 acres) | |
| Miss Guyler's Meadow | 1989 | 1.22 ha (3.0 acres) | |
| Moaney & Crawyn's Meadows | 1995 | 0.96 ha (2.4 acres) | Part of the Ballaugh Curraghs ASSI and Ramsar Site |
| Mullen e Cloie | 2008 | 1.15 ha (2.8 acres) | |
| The Keyllagh | 2024 | 10.80 ha (26.7 acres) | |
| Total | 1,056.82 ha (2,611.5 acres) | This represents approximately 2% of the Isle of Man's land area (57,198ha) |
Nature Discovery Centres
The Manx Wildlife Trust also operates seasonal "Nature Discovery Centres" at both the Ayres National Nature Reserve and Scarlett (Malew), along with one co-located with their shop beneath the Manx Wildlife Trust offices in Peel.[1]