Breagle Glen

Breagle Glen in Port Erin is a small area of less than one acre and it is owned by the Manx Wildlife Trust, which is a member of The Wildlife Trusts.  Access is on foot from Port Erin, by bus, steam train or by car.  Parking is on the roadside in St George's Crescent, or in the car park near the Breagle Glen Cafe.

The nature reserve consists of a pretty grassed area with a bench to sit on, a raised perennial flower bed adjacent to the information board which was funded by Manx Airlines, and a tiny woodland area with a little stream running through it.

Braille Garden

The raised flower bed was built by volunteers who decided to make it into a touch and smell garden for the blind and disabled.  This includes traditional herbs such as thyme, lemon balm, rosemary, sage and lavender.

A notice board in Braille is displayed in the flower bed. Funding for the Braille garden was supplied by the high street retailer Marks & Spencer.

Woodland Walk

Behind the grassed area is the little glen with a stream passing under two wooden bridges, which create a circular walk.  The land to the west of the stream was donated by Dr and Mrs W Wight and the land to the east of the stream was donated to the trust by Port Erin Commissioners.

Wildlife

The thoughtful and carefully considered planting schemes in this reserve have created a haven for all sorts of wildlife.  The hedgerow is made up of holly, hazel, hawthorn, blackthorn and roses.  This all makes for a most attractive and appealing site for an assortment of wild birds very attractive for finches and other small birds.  Bird boxes have been supplied and erected to encourage nesting.

Café and recreation area

Just up the road from the reserve is a bowling green, tennis courts and new crazy golf course which surround the excellent Breagle Glen Cafe which was enlarged in the 1990s and which can cater for parties as large as 90 people.

[Source: Manx Glens - A stroll through history]

[Acknowledgement: Suzanne Cubbon]