Charity to manage land 'for nature' in perpetuity

Manx Birdlife has become the owner of 60 acres of land on the Langness Peninsula

Land at the most southerly point of the Isle of Man has been acquired by a charity promising to "manage it in perpetuity for nature".

Manx Birdlife now owns 60 acres (24 hectares) of grassland, coastal heath and saltmarsh on the Langness Peninsula.

Some 200 bird species have been recorded at the area of special scientific interest, which also boasts the only lesser mottled grasshoppers in the British Isles.

Manx Birdlife managing director Allison Leonard said the charity wanted to "protect... a very special area for many types of wildlife".

The ringed plover is one of the 200 bird species recorded in the area

She added: "By coming into our ownership, it is protected and will be managed for nature in perpetuity going forward."

The land acquisition means the charity is now responsible for both the northern and southern tips of the Isle of Man, totalling 165 acres (67 hectares).

Ms Leonard said her charity wanted to conduct breeding bird surveys, and hoped to work with neighbouring landowners to look at the area "holistically".

The charity's "long-term vision", she said, is to make Langness an example of how both nature and people can co-exist and benefit from sustainable management.

'Apartment plans rejected'

As well as its ecological significance, Langness also features landmarks like the Herring Tower and Langness copper mines.

The acquisition saw Langness Golf Course donate two parcels of land to the charity.

The golf course, along with Nature Vannin Ltd, also provided funds for the charity to buy land from developers Dandara.

As part of the sale, land for the former hotel Castletown Golf Links building has been acquired by Langness Golf Club Ltd.

That site was the subject of a long-running bid by Dandara to redevelop it into 40 new apartments.

Those plans were rejected in 2021.