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Location: Cooil Bane, Sulby, Isle of ManOS: SC 375 957
Habitat: Traditional hay meadows
Moaney and Crawyn’s Meadows are fine examples of traditional hay meadows rich in wild flowers. They lie to the northeast of the Ballaugh Curragh (curragh means willow marsh in Manx Gaelic), the largest and most important wetland on the Isle of Man.
The fields are one of only five sites on the Isle of Man known for Pale Sedge Carex pallescens. Traditional Manx sod hedges form the boundaries to the meadows and are lined with Rusty Sallow Salix cinerea and an attractive Silver Birch tree.
The Meadows support a diverse range of plants characteristic of traditional hay meadows and wetland habitats. Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor, Yellow Bartsia Parentucellia viscosa, Purple-loosestrife Lythrum salicaria, Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra and Heath Spotted-orchids Dactylorhiza maculata, are all found here.
The large and spectacular Royal Fern Osmunda regalis thrives on the hedges and a patch of Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus is also present in one corner of the field. Greater Butterfly-orchids Platanthera chlorantha have been recorded in the past.
The diversity of flowering plants attracts a range of insects, particularly butterflies, moths, bees and hoverflies. Birds such as moorhen, snipe, curlew and migrant warblers can also be seen here.
The adjacent curragh supports the largest winter roost of hen harriers in western Europe – you may be lucky enough to see these impressive birds of prey.
From Sulby or Ballaugh, leave the TT course at the Sulby Glen Hotel, heading north on the Clenagh road (A14). After one mile, turn left at the minor crossroads (signposted Ballaugh Curragh). Follow this road, passing through two sharp bends, after which there is a small layby on the right hand side sufficient for four or five cars. The meadows are situated just a few metres further on, to the left.
The meadows are under traditional management, which involves cutting the meadows for hay in late summer followed by light grazing. The Meadows have never been re-seeded or treated with pesticides and artificial fertilisers.
Moaney and Crawyn’s Meadows are managed for Plantlife by the Manx Wildlife Trust. The purchase of this nature reserve was made possible by Timotei.
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