Bird conservation charity's £4.9k education boost

A bird conservation charity has received lottery funding to develop an outdoor education programme to encourage children to connect with nature.

Manx BirdLife received £4,900 to expand its education programme for species monitoring in the Point of Ayre Nature Reserve, which is run by the charity.

The money would be used to buy equipment such as moth traps, bat detectors, butterfly nets and action cameras for schools and community groups to borrow for free.

Anna Graham from Manx BirdLife, said it would enable more people to "engage directly with the natural world, develop a deeper understanding of the species around us and become active participants in conservation efforts".

"It's an exciting opportunity for the Isle of Man community to help protect and preserve our natural heritage," she said.

In the last academic year, about 2,500 children participated in activities as part of Manx BirdLife Education Programme.

Sarah Kelly, chairman of the Manx Lottery Trust, said it was "wonderful to see the charity creating opportunities for people of all ages to connect with nature and contribute to wildlife conservation.

"It will inspire future generations to care for the natural world around them."

Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.