Isle of Man - Giving you Freedom to Flourish

The Ayres

Guided Walks

During the summer there are regular guided walks with the Ayres Warden. For details contact the Warden (tel. 07624 337670) or check the event listings on the government home page.

Geological History

Approximately 10,000 years ago the northern part of the Isle of Man was covered by a glacier. The Bride hills were formed as a terminal moraine (the rocks and soil pushed along in front of the glacier). Since that time, the Ayres have formed from sand and shingle moved along the west coast of the Island. This material has formed a succession of ridges from the Lhen/Blue Point area to the Point of Ayre. The word Ayres is, in fact, a Norse word meaning gravel bank. Rue Point has extended seaward by approximately 30m in just over 50 years as new material has been washed up the coast to form new ridges.

In addition, the north of the Island is believed to be rising. This combination of deposition and upward land movement has created a raised beach.

Social History

The Ayres has evidence of settlement dating back to Mesolithic and Neolithic times, though no artefacts have been found on the part of the Ayres that is in Government control.

From 1600 the Lord of the Island had rights to all the game on the Ayres, while the in-tack holders had rights of passage to the shore and grazing on the Common. Two posts, from 1795, are still visible, marking the farmers' land and the Common.

Agriculture in the north of the Island was under-developed and provided an additional income to fishing in the nineteenth century. Prior to 1845 the Ayres heath extended much further towards the Bride hills. The Disafforesting Act of 1861 swept away the ancient rights of the Common and the heath was divided up into thirds between the Crown, the people and an area that was put up for sale. The land was sold off in strips which can still be seen on Ordnance Survey maps today. The land was enriched using marl, seaweed and farmyard manure.

Typical rotation crops were:

1styear. Potatoes or Turnips
2ndyear. Barley
3rdyear. Clover
4thyear. Oats
5thyear. Peas or Oats

Old field boundaries can seen on the Reserve, now abandoned and returned to the heath. At grid ref. NX 422 030 old lime kilns are present. These were used to make lime to "sweeten" the acidic fields.

Around the time of World War II the Ministry of Defence had ownership of the land. The Ayres were defended from coastal attacks and were also used for carrying out military manoeuvres. Today 303 bullet casings can still be found. If any munitions are found they should be left and reported to the police immediately.

In 1967 the conifer plantation was planted in the centre of the Reserve. The trees are stunted by the harsh weather conditions and the poor soil. Though the trees are an artificial feature they are a breeding area for some birds.

The first ecological study, currently available, of the Ayres was written in 1931. Since then proposals for the Ayres "waste land" have ranged from sand and gravel extraction, oil refinery, salt works, land fill, conifer plantation, hotel and golf course and mineral extraction, some of which have taken place.

In 1996 the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) declared the Government-owned land on the Ayres as an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) ensuring its protection for future generations. In 2000 the area was deemed to be of national importance and declared a National Nature Reserve, allowing greater protection under the Wildlife Act 1990.

Natural History

The main feature of the Ayres N.N.R. is the extensive area of Lichen Heath. This habitat type can not be found elsewhere on the Island and only occurs in small patches else where in the UK. The other name for the Lichen Heath is Grey Dune due to the overall colour given by the lichens.

The Reserve has several breeding bird species that are rare or in decline. Linnets (Carduelis cannabina), Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus), Skylark (Alauda arvensis) and Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) are the most notable breeding birds. The Ayres shore line is the only place on the Island where Little Terns breed.

Curlews (Numenius arquata) can be spotted during the summer months by listening for their delightful burbling call. This declining species nests on the ground, as do most of the breeding birds on the Ayres N.N.R., and they are easily disturbed from their nests.

Five species of orchid are regularly seen on the reserve though their abundance may be reduced by a wet winter. The Ayres N.N.R. is one of two known localities where the Isle of Man cabbage (Coincya monensis ssp monensis) still occurs. Moonwort (Botrychium lunaria) and Adders-tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum) are two unusual-looking ferns that spring up through the grasses and sedges. During late summer the Ling and Bell Heather form a rich carpet of purple with occasional vibrant patches of yellow Western Gorse flowers.

Whilst walking the paths through the heath keep an eye out for Green Tiger Beetles (Cicindela campestris) scuttling beneath your feet. They will be hunting for caterpillars or looking for a mate.

Along the sand and shingle shore-line Grey Seals bob up and down in the surf taking note of passers-by whilst large flocks of Golden Plover over-winter in their hundreds.

A total of 780 + species have been recorded on the Reserve. This includes plants, fungi, birds, spiders, moths, ants etc. More are still to be recorded and studied further. To help us, down load a recording form and send us your records.

The Ayres Warden can tell you all about the wildlife (tel. 07624 483942)

Ayres Byelaws

This nature reserve is internationally important and easily damaged. To conserve the wildlife and to allow it to be enjoyed by everyone, please observe the byelaws. There are two sets of byelaws covering this National Nature Reserve:

The Ayres National Nature Reserve (Department Land) Byelaws 2005 which cover the land held by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (most of the site - see the map in these byelaws);
the Byelaws of the Manx Museum and National Trust, covering the Manx National Heritage land adjacent to the Ballaghennie entrance.

You can download the Ayres DAFF land byelaws below.

Camping - although camping is generally prohibited on the reserve, up to a maximum of 15 motorhomes (no tents) are authorised for overnight camping on the Recreation Area, which is at the western end of the site, for a maximum of 3 consecutive nights. There are no facilities so you should bring everything that you need.