The Met Office has delivered its monthly report for July.
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New Scheme Gets The Green Light
A scheme that will help reduce carbon emissions and household bills by helping people make properties more energy efficient will come into effect on October 1. The Green Living Grant scheme was approved by Tynwald, and is part of the gov’s commitment to reach net zero by 2050, for the benefit of the […]
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Plans for More Trees
Tynwald has approved a scheme that will see landowners incentivised to plant more trees
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Shimmins Asks: ‘Can we Trust DEFA?’
Tynwald was debating a report by Environment and Infrastructure Policy Review Committee.
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No Plans for Hosepipe Ban
Manx Utilities said a very wet May has lead to healthy water levels in the island’s reservoirs, despite the current heatwave.
Photo – Catharine Devine
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Coastal Buildings and War Memorials Protected
In total, 14 coastal buildings, including six lighthouses, and 13 war memorials have been added to the island’s protected buildings register (PBR).
Image credit: Ron Strathdee
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Make Litter an Election Priority
ieces of Plastic (3PoP), Plastic Busters and Beach Buddies have joined forces to make a joint pre-election statement suggesting the issue of litter should be a top priority for candidates in September’s election.
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Plans Submitted for New Amenity Site
If approved the replacement will be built by Dandara and is believed to cost a total of about £3 million.
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Report Makes Mincemeat of Meat Co
The Environment and Infrastructure Policy Review Committee is due to present its findings to Tynwald later this month.
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Solution Found to Save St Marks Elm Trees
Over 50,000 people signed a petition calling on the gov to block plans for the trees to be removed.
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Re-Development Can Save Greenfield Sites
The recent outrage over plans to remove elms from St Marks has led Jane Hall to consider why more emphasis isn’t put on re-developing existing buildings.
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Use Water Wisely
The warning comes after a dry spring and a lack of rainfall in June.
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Elms in Keys
A planning application to cut down 25 elm trees from ‘one of Europe’s last elm tree tunnels’ to create a farm access road along Braaid Road in St Marks was debated in the House of Keys this morning amidst multiple protests, a petition and national media attention to opposition to […]
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Boot Steps In
The planning committee had approved an application would have seen some of the registered woodland lost forever.
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Save Our Elms!
The issue was raised by Manx Wildlife Trust on Wednesday evening when it criticised the decision to fell which it said it a ‘registered woodland with trees over 100 years old’
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Award-Winning Nature Writer to Judge Young Nature Blogger 2021
Autistic naturalist Dara McAnulty’s first book, ‘Diary of a Young Naturalist’ was published when he was just 16.
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Ridiculous or Historic?
A Ramsey Commissioner has labelled the idea of registering a phone box as ridiculous but the gov says it could be preserved because of its historic value.
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Steps to Close for Five Weeks
The steps link the South Quay and Douglas Head Road.
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Personal Trainer’s Petition to Save Her Business
Christine Barker was using the shed in her back garden for one to one sessions until Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot overturned her planning approval.
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Al Fresco Dining in Laxey?
Serendipity Ltd has applied to convert a rear courtyard into a partially covered seating area to allow it to serve food and drink outdoors.
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Return to Game Status Best Hares Likely to Get
Mr Boot noted that the hares are not native to the island but were introduced in the 1950s.
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Warning After Man Fined for Unlicensed Heath Burning
The Isle of Man was the first jurisdiction in the British Isles to regulate prescribed burning by way of licensing.
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Leo’s Sticking it to Irresponsible Dog Owners
While exercising during lockdown, Leo was disappointed to notice the amount of dog muck in the village.
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Gef’s Daily Roundup
Business Support Applications for the Coronavirus Business Support Scheme (CBSS) – Circuit Break (March 2021) and the Business Premises Support Scheme (BPSS), which were introduced to support businesses during the Circuit Break Lockdown, have been extended until Friday May 14. The CBSS – Circuit Break (March 2021) was introduced on […]
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Why MHKs Booted Out Animal Welfare Bill
One of the more controversial parts of the original Bill was the status of the mountain hares.
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Gov Seeking to Register 27 Buildings
The move follows the recent registration of the Cosy Nook in Port Erin.
Image credit: Calf of Man Lower lighthouse and Chicken’s Rock lighthouse, Stephen Corran
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Applications for Improved Laxey Flood Defences
The area around the river flooded in October 2019 after several gov departments failed to act in relation to felled trees found upriver.
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Happy Earth Day 2021
“Humanity is spending Earth’s resources as if there were two Earths.” For Earth Day 2021, Green Party Committee member Sarah Mercer reflects why we need to act now to help our planet.
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Feedback Sought on New Area Plan Proposals
Area Plan for the North and West will replace local plans, some of which date back to the 1980s.
Image credit: https://unsplash.com/@ollypop1221
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Chance to Showcase Manx Food and Drink
Last year’s food festival generated an estimated £432,000 for our economy.
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Southern Show on the Move
The move will not change the show, as the agricultural and rural focus will remain at its core and continue to be the driving force behind its organisation.
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An Introduction to the Climate Change Citizens’ Forum
Sarah Mercer tells us about climate change, and more importantly, what the Isle of Man should do about it.
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Gef’s Good News
It’s all been a bit doom and gloom recently, so Gef has scoured the web to find some heartwarming stories. A Lot of Dough Anyone who has seen American TV or films will know one thing about girl scouts, they sell cookies. And in California eight-year-old Lilly Bumpus has set […]
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Gef’s Daily Roundup
The island remembers Prince Philip, Beckii Flint is one of Forbes’ 30 under 30 and another night of violence in Belfast.
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Taking Responsibility for Their own Mess
One of the group messaged the original poster to apologise for the mess they and their mates had left.
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Gef’s Daily Roundup
Fort Island, fire alarms and Keir Starmer find their way into today’s round, it’s been a busy Thursday.
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Boot Questioned On Planning And Our Environmental Footprint
Yesterday’s HoK Questions – DEFA Minister Geoffrey Boot got quizzed on southern planning and what support there is for residents who want to reduce their environmental footprint at home.
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Gef’s Daily Roundup
A petition seeks to protect mountain hares, the Arts Council is seeking inspiration for new sculptures and Ken Barlow battles Covid.
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Hares Need Protecting, not Shooting
David Cretney and Manx Wildlife Trust have said proposed protections for the mountain hare don’t go far enough.
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Response to Thefts Show at Our Best
The two thefts, one from St Johns and the other from St Marks are under investigation by the police.
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Where Are We Up To With Carbon Emissions?
Paul Craine provides an update on the Climate Change Bill, compares the Isle of Man’s emissions to other countries and looks at what work still needs to be done.
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Dog Walkers Asked to be Responsible
Dog walkers are asked to be responsible and keep their four legged companions on a lead around the Ayres Nature Reserve
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Farewell Frisco
Curraghs Wildlife Park is mourning the loss of their ‘old lady’, Frisco the red panda. Frisco was sadly put to sleep today. At over 17 years and 8 months old, the park said she was ‘exceptionally old for a Red Panda’. The average age red pandas live to is 14 […]
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Manx Fish Eggs Keep Jersey Angling Afloat
More than 30,000 fish eggs produced on the Isle of Man have been used to keep Jersey’s angling season afloat. The eggs were produced at the Cornaa Fish Farm which came back under gov control in June 2020 after a longstanding commercial lease with Troutlodge ended. Shortly afterwards the Jersey […]
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Green Living Grant
Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot says his department is working to introduce a substantial energy efficiency scheme. The scheme will aim to help lower the emissions from homes on the island, which make up the biggest single portion of our carbon emissions. He explained: ‘The details are yet to be finalised […]
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Beach Buddies and PlasticBusters Form Supergroup
Left to Right: Jaime Amoedo and Bill Dale Over the last few weeks, the island has been battered by storms and high tides that washed up large amounts of rubbish, debris, and fishing nets on Manx Beaches. To combat this, a joint event between Beach Buddies and PlasticBusters organised by […]
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Vehicle Duty Changes Dropped, For Now
The gov will not be progressing the planned changes to vehicle duty until later in the year. As Gef revealed last week, the order sought approval for a new zero emissions vehicle duty of £50 and an increase in duty for other road users. A petition against its introduction had […]
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Gef’s Daily Roundup
Smart Meters Manx Utilities will shortly begin installing meters for its much anticipated Island-wide smart metering system. Smart meters will form part of a smarter energy grid allowing Manx Utilities to be more precise about energy production and supply, enabling a reduction in waste and better support low carbon technologies […]
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Over 4,500 Sign Petition Against Vehicle Duty Changes
A petition calling for the gov to drop its plans to introduce a £50 vehicle duty for zero emissions vehicles has attracted over 4,000 signatures. Gef revealed over the weekend that Tynwald will be asked next week to back the introduction of the charge. If approved, vehicle duties will continue […]
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£50 Duty for Zero Emission Vehicles
Tynwald will this month be asked to back the introduction of a £50 duty for zero emission vehicles. The motion will be laid by Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker when members sit on March 16. If approved, vehicle duties will continue using the current categories while gradually introducing ‘weight based duty […]
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Paris Agreement to be Extended to Island
Chief Minister HQ expects the Paris Climate Agreement to be extended to the Isle of Man in time for the Glasgow Climate Summit in November. Mr Quayle was asked by Garff MHK Daphne Caine what plans he had to extend the agreement to include the island. He said: ‘I am […]
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People Need to See Environmental Benefits
‘We are in a really good place and that did not happen by chance.’ That was the opening of Jason Moorhouse’s speech in response to Treasury Minister Alf Canna’s Budget today. However the Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK said he still has concerns including a ‘big and expensive public sector’ […]
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Trim Your Bush before Mating Season
People are reminded to trim hedges before the start of the bird nesting season. Hedgerows are an important part of the countryside and provide wildlife with food, shelter and important breeding sites. To protect flowers, birds and other creatures that use them, people are asked to avoid trimming their hedges […]
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Chief Plants People’s Wood Tree
The Chief Min has planted one of the first trees that will form a new People’s Wood (Keyll yn Phobble). The project is part of the gov’s response to the climate change emergency and will see 85,000 trees – one for every island resident – planted at Meary Veg in […]
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Manxman to be Diesel Powered
The Steam Packet’s new flagship, Manxman, will be powered by the ‘world’s most efficient four-stroke diesel engine’. Technology group Wärtsilä has been chosen to supply the new vessel with two eight-cylinder and two 10-cylinder engines, which are recognised for a high level of fuel efficiency which reduces exhaust emissions. The […]
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Anger Over 2035 Target Rejection
A Douglas Councillor has spoken of his anger after MHKs rejected a call to bring forward the gov’s zero carbon emissions target from 2050 to 2035. Liberal Vannin leader Lawrie Hooper criticised the gov for a lack of action since it declared a climate emergency and said he had ‘absolutely […]
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Adopt A Place
Rachel Amoedo and Raquel Garcia A Manx group’s plan to invite people to adopt a place of their choice and pledge to do their best to keep it litter-free of items that could harm the environment has gone global, reaching into 57 different countries including the UK, France, India, Maldives, […]
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Will you take the Pledge?
Plastic Busters We started this year with the world on fire, and it’s not got much better. While a more pressing threat has been demanding our attention since March, it’s important that we keep the environment in our mind. Helping us keep the environment at the forefront of our actions […]
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If I Could Write The Climate Bill
As you might remember from a September article from Gef, the Climate Change Bill 2020 is currently in the legislative process, and is a chance to massively impact the Island’s route to carbon neutrality. It all kicked off in June 2019, when Tynwald voted to create a ‘Climate Emergency Transformation […]
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IoM Climate Change Bill: An Update
Ad Feature by Isle of Man Government GLOBAL WARMING 101 Thanks to mankind, our planet is a bit f**ked Global warming mechanics are simple: carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere traps heat, and the bigger the carbon dioxide build-up, the more heat is being trapped worldwide, causing the planet to […]
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3 Pieces of Plastic
Dog lover and walking fanatic Richard Macknee is on a mission to change the Island’s beaches, footpaths and general outdoors for the better with one simple request: Next time you are out and about, simply pick up 3 pieces of plastic! Founded almost 3 years ago, the 3 Pieces of […]
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Do your bit: Join the Woodland Trust
Climate Change. It’s everywhere. Not just “climate change” the all too familiar, dangerously-close-to-losing-all-meaning two word alliterated sentence at the top of this article, but the actual, real thing. Climate Change The Destroyer™ is actually happening all over the only planet we’ve got and every single educated mind out there is […]