Volunteering in the hills
Making the Island an even better place to live
Hi everyone my name is Ranald and I am a volunteer with the IOM Civil Defence as well as the Chair of the Destination First Board, whose primary aim is to improve the way we look after our island making it an even better place to live.
My love affair with the island started 30 years ago when my job brought me here from Ireland for a 3 year posting but thankfully the island called me to stay. One of the first things I did was to buy an ordnance survey map, as mapping apps had clearly not been invented way back then, and set myself a goal of walking all the Island’s hills & one mountain within 4 months. I achieved my goal and experienced the mix of weather, topography, wildlife and outstanding vistas I had enjoyed in Ireland. Peat has played a part in my life since my youth and I am now ashamed to admit I had experience cutting it, burning it as a primary heat source on open fires whilst leaving large scars on the landscape. Thankfully those days have gone and instead of breathing peat smoke into my young lungs I am now helping to preserve the earth’s lungs here on our Island. Sarah took several members of the IOM Civil Defence into the hills in the worst of possible weather to educate & get us involved in peat preservation. The attached photographs show the conditions we endured, but we were all left with a sense of achievement and more importantly a commitment to get more involved.
The Isle of Man is a very, very special place and it is important to keep it that way. We are the only ‘entire nation’ Biosphere. Let’s embrace what Biosphere stands for and use it as a platform to work together for a sustainable future.
As part of the Destination First agenda you are likely to see next year the roll out of a new countryside code as well as an anti-litter programme so we can all play our part in protecting and strengthening our UNESCO Biosphere status. Even more exciting initiatives are on their way so look out for them.
Finally I would strongly suggest you get involved with the Manx Peat Partnership even just for a day in the hills, and if I may take the opportunity to recruit for the Isle of Man Civil Defence. We all have one thing in common - our love for this island.
