A 46-acre site in the upper Sulby Valley has been purchased for conservation, with Manx Wildlife Trust (MWT) set to manage the land for at least 21 years.

MWT has secured the long-term management of Creggans, above Tholt-y-Will, following its purchase by a private donor to establish a nature reserve.

The site is considered one of the Isle of Man’s most important locations for waxcap grassland fungi, supporting an internationally significant range of species.

Waxcap grasslands are among the world’s most threatened habitats, which rely on unimproved pasture that has not been ploughed, reseeded or intensively fertilised for many decades.

Surveys have recorded several rare and globally vulnerable species at the site, including Ballerina Waxcap, Crimson Waxcap, Golden Spindles, Oily Waxcap and Violet Coral.

Despite the international ecological importance of waxcap grasslands, Douglas Head Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) is currently the only site in the Isle of Man with statutory protection for its fungi interest, with Creggans considered an equally significant example of the declining habitat.

Alongside its wildlife value, the site has considerable archaeological and cultural importance.

It contains ruined farmsteads, known as tholtans, the remains of a Bronze Age burial mound and Corrody Keeill. Nearby holy wells associated with St Ciaran, together with traditional Manx sod hedge field boundaries and cart tracks, reflect centuries of settlement and spiritual life in the Sulby Valley.

The landscape also documents changes in Manx agriculture, from subsistence mixed farming to the upland sheep grazing practised today.

Danny Creer, the farmer whose sheep graze the land, said: ‘This land has been grazed for generations, and that grazing is exactly what has allowed it to become such a special site for rare fungi.

‘I’m pleased to see the site being managed in a way that respects its character and history, while bringing benefits for both people and nature.’

Creggans adjoins Tholt-y-Will National Glen and offers views across the Sulby Valley, Sulby Reservoir and the Central Hills. Its gently sloping terrain, nearby public parking and accessible location are considered suitable for carefully managed public engagement alongside conservation.

David Bellamy, head of conservation and land at MWT, said: ‘From a conservation perspective, this is amongst the most important grassland fungi sites in the whole of Britain and Ireland.

‘Across the world, waxcap grasslands are disappearing through agricultural improvement, development and the loss of traditional grazing. Continued, year-round grazing is absolutely critical here.

‘With careful, continuing management, this site can remain in excellent condition for generations to come, delivering for both our food security and biodiversity at the same time.’

MWT is now developing a light-touch management and monitoring plan for the site, working with farmers, archaeologists and specialist groups including the Isle of Man Fungus Group and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

The public opening of the new nature reserve has already taken place, but the Isle of Man Fungus Group and MWT are also combining forces to deliver formal, in-depth training in mycological survey on Tuesday, October 27.

For booking information, you can visit https://www.mwt.im/events