Manx Wildlife Trust is asking member of the public to respect the footpaths at one its areas of special scientific interest.

The ASSI, near Mooragh Park in Ramsey, was damaged by storms earlier this year.

Our pictures of the area taken this week seem to suggest that the area was recovering.

However, MWT has informed the Examiner this is not the case. Chief executive Tim Graham explained how members of MWT had been studying the area.

He said: ’Actually the lost area is not recovering. As there is no sand left for it to grow on. We have lost an area of the hare’s foot clover.

’The new wall is right up to the beach with no dunes there now. It is very narrow at the swimming pool end and I guess we have lost about quarter of the area.

’The dunes that are left are doing fine, but it needs people to stick to the old paths and not go creating new ones, to keep away from the crumbling edges of the dune area so they don’t erode and to clean up after their dogs.’

The area was designated an ASSI in part because it is where the Isle of Man cabbage was first detailed by the botantist John Ray in the 17th century.