THE landscape of the bracken-covered north coast is to be transformed by grazing sheep that will control invasive plants and allow other species to flourish.
The government’s Natural Environment team plan to introduce Manx Loaghtan sheep to the stretch of land between Grosnez and Plémont. Bracken currently covers extensive areas of the north coast, hindering the growth of other plant species and reducing habitats for insects and birds.
Because the plant is difficult to control by hand, the team want to introduce a flock of sheep to graze and trample on it to open up the scrub landscape.
This approach, known as conservation grazing, has previously been successful in improving heathland habitats and biodiversity in areas such as Sorel Point and Devil’s Hole.
Natural Environment manager Tim Liddiard said: “The aim is to revitalise biodiversity in the area, replacing seas of bracken with coastal grasslands, heather and gorse, which are much richer.
“This will create an ecosystem that will support diverse plants and offer improved habitats for animals and birds, while also having benefits on a visual scale.” He said that there would still be access to the area as long as dogs were kept on leads. An alternative route will be available for those who want to bypass the sheep.
Mr Liddiard explained that until the 20th century, cattle, ponies and sheep would have grazed on the northern headlands and that gorse and bracken would have been collected for fuel and bedding respectively.
Today, such practices no longer take place, meaning that bracken and scrub have encroached, causing some coastal and heathland species to become extinct.
“We want to restore the area using the same traditional methods of controlling vegetation,” he said.
Mr Liddiard added that the response from a recent public-drop in session at St Ouen’s Parish Hall was “really positive, with lots of different interest groups present with different needs and expectations”.
