Land at Fort Island Road, Derbyhaven, could be used for a statue of geese, if planners give their backing.

Philip Vermeulen has submitted an application (20/00115/B) on behalf of Langness Golf Course Ltd for the erection of an illuminated sculpture on a concrete plinth.

The geese statue would be mounted on a concrete plinth and illuminated by solar powered uplighters.

In the planning statement that accompanies the application, it is revealed that Mr Vermeulen has ’formed a vehicle called Nature Vannin to draw interest in and to protect the Isle of Man’s natural environment and its native wildlife’.

Mr Vermeulen explained: ’The goal is to align with the national’s biosphere and biodiversity aspirations, promoting different ways of interacting with and importantly safeguarding the Isle of Man’s natural heritage for future generations.’

If approved by government planners, the brent geese statue will feature three birds and be placed on the top of a 1m-high concrete plinth with the words ’We Are Langness’ inscribed on the side of it.

The brent goose is a small dark goose, and is a familiar site around the island and Northern Ireland from September until April. They breed in the Canadian high Arctic and migrate to the British Isles for winter.

Their main source of food is vegetation growing on mud flats such as eelgrass and algae.

Mr Vermeulen said: ’Langness is a perfect haven for these magnificent geese and it is therefore highly appropriate that the sculpture is placed at the entrance to Langness peninsula.’

The location chosen for the statue is at The Smelt, at the junction of the Fort Island Road and Langness Road where it would be a ’gateway feature’.