Staff members from RBS International across the Island took a day off from their banking duties to help clear two separate sites of scrubland at Ballaugh Curraghs for Manx National Heritage.

The object of the exercise was to make the areas more attractive for roosting hen harriers.

The 18-strong contingent from the bank comprised representatives from specialist units, customer-facing and back office staff, as well as colleagues from different branches.

One of the organisers, senior relationship manager Carl Jennings said: ‘It really was back-breaking work.

‘One of the sites was very boggy and we were literally up to our knees in smelly water while the other posed a different kind of challenge with the ground being very uneven. Our task was to reduce large areas of Willow scrub down to the diameter of a coffee cup and then bring all the waste to a central site for disposal.’

MNH provided some of the equipment necessary to carry out the project, such as waders and cutting tools, while RBS staff also contributed items from their own homes.

The day was coordinated for RBS International by Shaun Murphy, MNH property manager, for land use and sustainability. He said a tremendous amount had been achieved during the day as a result of hard graft by the group. Their efforts had made a considerable contribution to improving the habitat and making it more attractive for roosting hen harriers.

Mr Jennings added: ‘From our perspective it was an excellent team building event which brought together representatives from across our Isle of Man businesses. The work really was very hard but enjoyable and we cleared a huge area during the day which, hopefully, will have made a significant contribution to the overall project.’