Volunteering for nature with Manx Wildlife Trust

At PDMS, we're committed to supporting our local community and environment through our Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) Scheme so last week, we spent a morning with Manx Wildlife Trust (MWT) to help with their conservation efforts.

On Thursday morning, we headed up to the Milntown Nursery in the grounds of the Milntown Estate and helped to grow the next generation of native trees that will transform the Island's landscape for years to come. 

Armed with wellies, pots of compost and plenty of enthusiasm, our volunteers worked on a variety of tasks to support the nursery team. Together, we:

• Planted 1,320 acorns in root trainers where they will grow into oak saplings - these will spend the next year or two in the nursery before being planted in the north of the Island
• Tended 20 trays of silver birch saplings, ensuring they continue to thrive
• Harvested seeds from rowan tree berries, which is an especially hardy species well-suited to the Manx climate 

We also learned more about MWT's mission to plant native species and local hybrids, such as the Manx Hybrid Oak, to ensure authenticity and long-term survival in our unique Island environment. 

A large number of the trees nurtured at the Milntown Nursery are destined for planting around Glen Auldyn, in the north of the Island. This exciting project will create the Isle of Man's first temperate rainforest, significantly boosting biodiversity and increasing woodland coverage from 20% to 30%.  

Some of the trees we worked with will live for 300 to 400 years, becoming an enduring part of the Island's natural heritage and supporting local wildlife for generations to come. 

We are extremely lucky to live in such a beautiful green environment on the Isle of Man and experiences like these are invaluable to appreciate our surroundings and make a difference together. It was a rewarding and enjoyable day for our volunteers, and we're proud to contribute in a small way to such an ambitious and important conservation effort. 

A huge thank you to the MWT team for welcoming us and sharing their expertise - we're already looking forward to the next session! 

To find out more about Manx Wildlife Trust and their Glen Auldyn project, please visit their website www.mwt.im