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Patron His Excellency Sir Richard Gozney KCMG CVO

| Company No. 087312C

| Registered Charity No. 711

 | +44 (0) 1624 861130  | [email protected]  | www.manxbirdlife.im

Manx BirdLife, 35 New Road, LAXEY, Isle of Man IM4 7BG

Thank you for helping to conserve the Isle of Man’s wild birds and their habitats

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Miss Sarah Corlett Principal Planner Planning and Building Control Directorate Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture Murray House, Mount Havelock Douglas Isle of Man IM1 2SF 10 April 2020 Ref: Planning Application 20/00115/B. Erection of an illuminated sculpture on a concrete plinth Land South Of Limekilns/The Smelt Fort Island Road Derbyhaven Isle Of Man IM9 1TZ Dear Miss Corlett, I should be grateful if you would add our comments to those already submitted by others. In principle, though with one reservation, we believe the sculpture would be an attractive and appropriate way to mark the natural asset that is the Langness Peninsula. Illumination We do not support night-time illumination of the sculpture in what is a dark skies area. Albeit the level of lighting would be minimal for an installation this size and any deleterious impact on wildlife could feasibly be mitigated by suitable design, there is principle at stake. The area is either ‘dark skies’ or it is not. (Ergo, we trust all those who have objected to illumination of this small installation will be proportionately vociferous in their objection to the illumination caused by the proposed hotel development which rests within the same location and will affect the very same dark skies.) Species represented by the sculpture The choice of Pale-bellied Brent Goose is wholly apposite. The choice is unanimously supported by all the local birdwatchers with whom we have consulted - both those resident in the area and those who visit from farther afield. The regular winter residence of the Pale-bellied Brent Goose in modern times is to be celebrated as a symbol of hope when all around nature is perishing. Cullen and Jennings (1986) wrote, "During the [20th] century there have been 2 periods wherein the repeated visits of Brent Geese for several weeks have given hope of the establishment of a regular wintering habit. In mid February 1929 a party of 4 arrived at Derbyhaven and from the end of that month there were 8. Although 3 were shot, the remaining 5 stayed on until 16th March." Such was the fate of many birds that tried to inhabit the Island in those times. Much of the historic ornithological record is based on birds that were ‘taken’ (usually shot). It was not for lack of trying that the birds failed to become winter residents until about half-a-century ago in 1975.

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Thank you for helping to conserve the Isle of Man’s wild birds and their habitats

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The presence today in the Isle of Man of these geese, whose small and vulnerable global population nests exclusively in the Canadian high-arctic, should be celebrated. Their presence is the result of improved habitat (e.g. bay water quality) and the protections afforded to wild birds and their habitats by a contemporary society. Pale-bellied Brent Goose is synonymous with the ASSI. Cullen and Jennings also wrote, "Nowhere else [other than Derbyhaven, Langness and Scarlett] have Brent Geese lingered for more than a day...". Although this remains generally true to this day, individuals and single family parties of three or four birds are very occasionally seen away from the Langness Peninsula. This in itself is linked to the success of the growing population in the Langness, Sandwick and Derbyhaven ASSI - and represents both migrating birds seen ‘en route’ and winter-resident parties leaving the ASSI to explore new food sources away from the competition in the ASSI. Alternative species The Celtic League suggests Chough or Curlew as alternative choices of representative species. However, both occur widely and in numbers across and around the whole Island throughout the year. There are many areas that might claim these two species as their symbols. Although not so widespread, large flocks of Golden Plover are regularly to be found around the Island’s northern coast, most frequently from Blue Point to the Point of Ayre. Nowhere on the Island has the monopoly on Pale-bellied Brent Geese as has the Langness, Sandwick and Derbyhaven ASSI. Hence nowhere else on the Isle of Man has such a singular responsibility for the continued well-being and assured annual presence of this most charismatic of species. Structure Manx BirdLife feels it is not our position to comment on whether the structure will be robust enough. That is the concern of the proprietor. We have no reason to believe that choosing to depict Curlew or Chough or any other species would lend the design greater robustness. That is the craft and art of the sculptor. Yours sincerely, (Sent digitally) Neil G. Morris Managing Director