Covid-19 Coronavirus Privacy Home About The Government Departments Environment, Food and Agriculture Agriculture and Lands Directorate Hill and Uplands Skip To Menu Hill and Uplands Manx Uplands Stategy The Manx uplands are an iconic part of our landscape and heritage. Reference to the ‘sweet mountain air’ and ‘green hills and rocks’ are enshrined in our national anthem and the colours of the heather and gorse are woven into the very fabric of Manx tartan. The hills are a place of great beauty, yet for some they are also a place to work and for others a place to exercise or simply enjoy open space. Our uplands are also home to plants and animals that whilst familiar to us, are rare and important in a global and European context. – / 17 Production of food is an important and obvious function of hill land. But surprisingly, the Manx hills provide everyday functions that most people take for granted. Peatlands, which cover most of our hills reduce the impacts of climate change by locking up carbon dioxide, collect and filter our drinking water and slow the passage of rainfall into streams and rivers, thus reducing downstream flood risk. These multiple uses are of great benefit to the economy of the Isle of Man and the well-being of its people. It is important that the hills continue to provide these benefits long into the future. Ensuring sustainable management of such a wide range of uses to the satisfaction of all interested parties whilst retaining functions essential to the well being of the Isle of Man is one of the challenges faced by the Department. In May 2013 the Department instigated a working group of uplands stakeholders to identify the diverse uses and values of the uplands and to develop a vision for the future of the Departments uplands estate and adjoining lands. This group is being chaired by Professor Jim McAdam of the Glenwherry Hill Regeneration Partnership in Northern Ireland who will ensure that the views of all parties are fairly represented. Following three steering group meetings and extensive communications, a final report was submitted to the DEFA Minister in February 2014 who approved the recommendations for further consideration. The Department is now inviting comment from the public on potential methods of delivering these recommendations. The closing dates for comments is 5pm, Friday 30 May. Links to Upland Resources BBC - Trees near 'carbon saturation point' BBC- Rare ‘Red grouse’ saved from extinction at Glenwherry Belfast Hills Partnership Climate Northern Ireland- mountain fires and water quality DEFRA- Uplands Policy Review 2013 GWCT- Hen harriers and the Joint Raptor Study GWCT- Uplands biodiversity GWCT- Waders on the fringe Lake High Fells Upland Advisory Project Langholm Moorland Demonstration Project Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust- Pumlumon project Moors for the Future Natural England- Upland Management Handbook NFU- Farming delivers from the hills and uplands NFU - What future for our uplands? North-west Upland Farming Peatlands Northern Ireland Planet Earth online- Protecting peat in the UK upland RSPB- Cumulus report: impacts of changing livestock numbers on biodiversity RSPB- Uplands SRUC- Farmings Retreat from the hills SRUC- Response from the hills The Heather Trust UK- Draft Peatland Code UK Sustainable Uplands project Downloadable Documents Manx Uplands final report Issues and Opportunities final draft Share and Bookmark About The Government Departments Environment, Food and Agriculture Agriculture and Lands Directorate Hill and Uplands 1995 MNCT Hill Land Report PR Online Services News Webcams Flights Weather Events Maps Terms and Conditions Help Privacy Social Media Hub Site Map About The Government visitisleofman.com Switch to Desktop © 2021 Crown Copyright OGL All content is available under the Open Government Licence, except where otherwise stated