Creating the island’s first forest by expanding and linking the glens, plantations and woodlands between Ramsey and Sulby.
The aim is not to cover the landscape in dense woodland, but to increase the woodland cover from 20% to 30% over the next 30 years.
Ramsey Forest – a 30 year project – will launch in January 2014
In the remaining farmland, and townscape we hope to plant trees, groves and hedgerows to create a tree rich landscape for the woodland to nestle within.
By planting new native woodland the forest should become a biodiversity hotspot for woodland on the island, but the benefits of Ramsey Forest will be for people as well as wildlife:
Recreation opportunities will increase as we open up access to more woodland, particularly government plantations. We will make some woodlands more accessible through better paths to create nature trails, a running track, mountain bike access and hopefully create a new National Glen.
We will enhance and improve the existing landscape by planting more parkland trees along the Lazayre road, planting native woodlands on the lower scarp slopes of the hills and planting trees in parks, gardens and along the streets of Ramsey Town.
We will reach out to all the community to get involved and benefit from the forest by involving children, putting in access for people with mobility problems and inviting organisations to hold events and activities
A key part of the new forest will be to encourage economic regeneration. Some of this will be through the increased trade that will come from more visitors, some through new craft, forestry and recreation business and some will simply come because the Ramsey Forest area will be an attractive place to invest.
There will be lots of other benefits too. New woodlands will help mitigate floods. Carbon will be locked away, mitigating climate change. More people exercising will make a healthier community and woodlands are a superb local educational resource.
Get involved!
We will rely on volunteers to plant trees, create footpaths, organise events and fundraise.
We need community groups to help us design recreation infrastructure and local businesses to sponsor us. We need landowners to allow us to plant trees on their land, be it a garden or field.
You need your help to make the forest a reality!
Can you help? If so, please contact us by phone: (01624) 844432 or by email: enquiries@manxwt.org.uk
Donate to support our work
We also need to raise over £30,000 a year for the first ten years to see the vision become a reality.
Here’s how to make a donation to the Ramsey Forest fund:
- Donate online using our secure PayPal system
- Write a cheque, payable the Manx Wildlife Trust (make a note that it’s for the “Ramsey Forest fund”) and either post it to us or drop it in to the Wildlife Shop.
Find out more:
Ramsey Forest Biodiversity Strategy [PDF]
Ramsey Forest Business Strategy [PDF]
Ramsey Forest Recreation Strategy [PDF]
Living Landscapes
Ramsey Forest is a landscape scale project and part of the wider Wildlife Trusts vision for a ‘living landscape’.
Living Landscape projects have been set up across the British Isles. Living Landscapes are projects designed to reconnect nature across the landscape to create robust ecosystems where nature can move and flourish.
Images: Top: Glen Audlyn (Andree Dubbeldam); Middle: Ramsey new forest area.
Source:
This information has been taken from the Manx Wildlife Trust website and can be viewed in full here.
