The Manx BirdLife Point of Ayre National Reserve
Manx BirdLife is transforming a once bleak, industrial landscape into a thriving new refuge for Manx wildlife. This major long-term restoration project, led by Manx BirdLife, commenced in 2019 in partnership with Island Aggregates and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
Our aim is to create a very special place for birds and people of the Isle of Man. With potential to grow to more than 450 acres, the reserve will offer 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.
Strategically located at the northernmost tip of the Isle of Man, the reserve will provide refuge and act as a way-marker to migrant birds each spring and autumn. It will host an assemblage of breeding and wintering birds and other wildlife that will be unique within the Island's landscape.
Public access and visiting
From July 2024, the Manx BirdLife Point of Ayre National Reserve will be open to the public on Wednesday and Sunday from 9am until sunset. Any changes to opening times will be notified via the website and Manx BirdLife Social Media channels.
We will also be running a series of events on the reserve, for more information please check our Events Calendar on this website.
A map of the reserve is available here.
Arrange a private group visit
We can also facilitate pre-arranged visits for your organisation, club or society.
To discuss the possibility of a visit, supervised by a Manx BirdLife staff member, please call 01624 861130 or email pointofayre@manxbirdlife.im.
To give without charges
use your PayPal account
with PayPal's Giving Fund:
To pay by credit/debit card
use 'Donate now':
Please support this important project by donating today before you leave this page
If you have a PaylPal account, you can donate using the PayPal Giving Fund, through which we will receive 100% of your donation. If not, you can donate by credit/debit card using the 'Donate now' button. You can also donate by:
- Sending a cheque payable to Manx BirdLife, 35 New Road, Laxey, Isle of Man IM4 7BG; or
- Making a direct bank transfer to Account name Manx BirdLife, Sort Code 20-26-74, Account no. 40817279.
With your cheque or bank transfer, please state 'Reference' as 'Point of Ayre'.
And please remember, every pound you donate will be worth double to Manx BirdLife thanks to the very generous 'pound-for-pound' match-funding arrangement offered by the Scheinberg Family.
Thank you for whatever support you are able to give.
Reserve webcam
The live image below, coming direct from the reserve, might take a few seconds to render. If it does not display, click on the 'Play' button (►) at the bottom of the frame. Please note:
- During the shorter days of winter, broadcasting hours are constrained due to lack of prolonged sunlight to charge the system's solar panels;
- There is no audio available for reasons of privacy.
We are grateful to Sure IOM, our Telecommunications Partner, for its support of this and other initiatives.
Watch and listen
Above: Watch this two-minute video interview describing the Manx Birdlife-Island Aggregates partnership that is creating the new reserve at the Point of Ayre.
If you'd like to know more about how you can support this
once-in-a-generation opportunity for nature conservation on the Isle of Man,
please call 01624 861130 or email pointofayre@manxbirdlife.im. Thank you.
