Port St Mary Commissioners is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and enhancing its part of our UNESCO Biosphere.
The commissioners have worked closely with Manx Wildlife Trust to preserve and reinstate overgrown areas and plans for a woodland and wildlife educational area are under way that will provide a place for ‘wild learning’.
The commissioners carefully manage green spaces, not cutting grass unnecessarily and increasing space devoted to Manx, natural wildflowers. It provides cuttings from Kallow Point triangle wildflower area (an Area of Special Scientific Interest) to locations Island-wide.
The board is working with Scoill Phurt Le Moirrey to arrange regular beach cleans, with the school adopting the beach. It has provided the school with a garden plot so children can learn about growing food, etc.
Areas of scrub land have been repurposed and provided to nursery schools for the same purpose, in line with the commissioners’ belief in engaging with children over environmental solutions.
The commissioners are working with Visit Isle of Man to ensure the area’s natural beauty is better promoted and to educate people over the need to protect it.
Although larger electric vehicles have been out of the commissioners’ price range other newer vehicles are the most environmentally friendly alternatives to EVs.
A zero single plastic policy has been brought into place for Town Hall rentals and balloon releases are prohibited on commissioners-owned land.
The commissioners’ business is conducted as paperless as possible, reducing printing costs and paper purchasing.
Port St Mary Commissioners also work with Rushen Heritage Trust to make heritage information about the village more current and accessible.
Several displays of information have been held in the Town Hall working in partnership with other groups. Its 'A Day in the Life' event, showcasing life in Port St Mary at that time and 40 years earlier, was extremely popular and the resources have been kept for the event to be run again after a similar time gap. An exhibition on the history of the village’s Bay Queen Hotel is planned.
