Renscault Brooghs
25 acres of rewilding in the heart of the West Baldwin Valley. Letting nature lead the recovery.
Our Rewilding Story
In May 2021, Manx Roots acquired Renscault Brooghs — 25 acres of former agricultural land in the West Baldwin Valley. The vision: step back, remove barriers to natural recovery, and let nature lead.
Rewilding is not about abandoning land. It is about understanding ecological processes well enough to know when intervention helps and when it hinders. Within two growing seasons, wildflower species not recorded for decades have re-emerged from the dormant seed bank.
For Ben Brooker, this project is deeply personal — a tangible commitment to the Isle of Man's ecological future, not as a client project, but as a permanent legacy.
Project Timeline
Site Acquired
25 acres of former agricultural land in the West Baldwin Valley secured for long-term conservation.
Initial Surveys & Planning
Baseline ecological surveys conducted. Management vision established: nature-led recovery with minimal intervention.
Bracken Management
Targeted bracken reduction to allow suppressed native species to re-emerge. Detailed habitat mapping completed.
Wildflower Emergence
Paths improved for monitoring. The first dormant wildflower species begin re-emerging from the historic seed bank.
Natural Regeneration
Self-seeded birch, willow, and rowan establishing. Bird species diversity increasing. Invertebrate populations recovering.
Nature-Led Recovery
Monitoring continues. The land is rewilding at its own pace, with only essential management interventions.
Biodiversity Recovery
Early signs of ecological recovery are everywhere at Renscault Brooghs.
Grassland birds returning
Skylark, meadow pipit, and stonechat territories established
Dormant wildflowers re-emerging
Species not recorded on site for decades appearing naturally
Natural tree regeneration
Self-seeded birch, willow, and rowan colonising sheltered areas
Native plant recovery
Heather, bilberry, and native grasses re-establishing across the site
Interested in our conservation work?
Whether you'd like to volunteer, learn more about rewilding, or discuss a conservation project — get in touch.