Mark Firth

Mark spoke passionately about growing up with a strong environmental influence and credited his mother, a Greenpeace campaigner, with introducing him to nature from an early age.

He expressed support for renewable energy, nature-based solutions and greater public use of green spaces.

A recurring theme was finding practical solutions that work alongside economic realities. Mark argued that government alone cannot fund everything and that charities, communities and businesses need to play a larger role.

Kirrie Jenkins

Kirrie provided one of the most detailed and informed responses of any candidate.

Having grown up on a farm and worked closely with environmental organisations, she repeatedly emphasised that farmers are "part of the solution" and that nature recovery must be delivered through partnership.

She strongly supported 30 by 30, biodiversity net gain, better planning processes and stronger legal protections for nature.

Kirrie also highlighted the value of Forest Schools, the restoration of upland habitats, and making biodiversity recovery central to government decision making.

MWT has more nature reserves and more Members in Ayre and Michael than any other constituency. Consequently, I have had a number of interviews already:

Paul Weatherall

Paul's environmental interest dates back to his Environmental Sciences studies at Lancaster University.

He stressed the importance of consultation and partnership, saying environmental decisions should involve landowners, government, charities and communities.

Paul supported updating the Wildlife Act, improving kerbside recycling and encouraging greater use of locally-produced food.

Mary Phillips

Mary described how nature helps her unwind and highlighted memorable experiences visiting the Calf of Man and spending time on the sea.

She strongly supported nature-based solutions, marine protection and regenerative farming.

Mary repeatedly returned to the importance of making local food production more resilient and increasing the visibility of Manx produce.

Julia Bell

A keen fell runner and former nurse, Julia brought a strong health perspective to environmental issues.

She was one of the strongest supporters of 30 by 30.

Julia argued that nature recovery, healthy soils, biodiversity, air quality and public health are fundamentally interconnected.

She also advocated for food hubs, more support for local suppliers and better integration of nature recovery into planning policy.

Stephen Broad

Stephen submitted a written response instead of participating in an interview.

His answers focused heavily on balancing competing interests and ensuring environmental policies are delivered through cooperation and co-management.

Stephen repeatedly emphasised the need to involve all stakeholders and drew heavily on examples from fisheries management.

Stephen requested that his full response be made available so you can read it here.

Peter Shimmin

Peter's answers focused on community engagement, practical delivery and joined-up government.

He described helping to plant trees in Millennium Oakwood as a child.

While supportive of climate action, Peter expressed concern that the term Net Zero has become politically polarised:

"The phrase 'net zero' alienates people."

He also supported increasing land and sea managed for nature "in a sensible and targeted way".

Devon Watson

Devon provided some of the strongest environmental advocacy of any candidate in Douglas Central.

He argued that climate change is already affecting infrastructure, flood risk and long-term economic resilience.

On protected habitats and wildlife recovery he stated:

"We need to be expanding this a lot."

Devon strongly supported peatland restoration, rewilding, habitat connectivity, renewable energy expansion, public transport and a more ambitious Net Zero pathway.

His preferred first-year priority would be:

"Creating an established pathway toward energy independence."

Sarah Maltby

Sarah linked nature closely to mental health and wellbeing, drawing on her experience working with young people and vulnerable groups.

She strongly supported brownfield-first development, peatland restoration, green roofs and stronger planning requirements.

Sarah also highlighted opportunities to connect environmental projects with rehabilitation, training and community skills programmes.

Sean Bostrom

Sean described himself as:

"Petrol head, lefty tree hugger."

A firefighter and long-time visitor before moving to the Island, he repeatedly highlighted the value of partnership working.

Sean supported 30 by 30, stronger cooperation between organisations, brownfield development and improved food security.

His standout environmental priority was unusual but valuable:

"Ban the sale of disposable barbecues."

Daphne Caine

Daphne drew extensively on her experience in tourism, government and community projects.

She reminded us that she was the member who originally introduced the Tynwald motion that became the climate emergency declaration.

She expressed strong support for 30 by 30, peatland restoration, nature-based solutions and community growing initiatives.

Daphne argued that:

"The Isle of Man... could absolutely be a whole nature reserve."

Aishlinn Creer

Aishlinn described herself as:

"A massive outdoors person."

She linked access to nature closely with wellbeing and repeatedly highlighted the value of walking and outdoor recreation.

Although supportive of Net Zero, she felt health, housing and education currently compete for limited public funds.

Aishlinn strongly supported maintaining existing environmental protections and said:

"We certainly have to maintain what we have. We can't be losing any."

She also advocated for restoring MWT's automatic planning consultation interested party status.

James Hampton

James submitted a detailed written response.

His answers consistently focused on public agency, transparency and economic value.

He argued:

"The only viable way to ensure long term protection is to clearly link it to economic interest."

His preferred priority was:

"Access and engagement: Footpaths & Information."

Across several answers, James stressed that environmental policy succeeds only when people feel ownership of it.

You can read his full response here.

Alex Perriam

Alex repeatedly described himself as:

"Not a politician."

His responses focused on practical action, local resilience and supporting communities.

He strongly supported farmers, describing them as:

"Not the problem, they're the solution."

Alex also called for MWT's planning consultation role to be restored, stronger support for local food production and long-term planning for resilience.

His proposed priority was:

"Develop a long-term Island resilience strategy."

Simon Sinclair

Simon focused heavily on collaboration and listening to stakeholders.

He supported more marine protected areas, improved access to the countryside and stronger partnerships with farmers.

His preferred first-year action would be to establish a collaborative steering group to modernise the Wildlife Act.

Rob Callister

As Chair of the Planning Committee, Rob brought significant planning experience to the discussion.

He repeatedly emphasised strategic thinking, joined-up working and giving greater consideration to nature within planning.

Rob strongly supported increasing protected areas and making biodiversity net gain a practical reality.

Rachel Glover

A MWT Trustee and environmental scientist, Rachel provided some of the most technically detailed answers.

She highlighted the importance of monitoring, evidence-based decision-making, blue carbon, biodiversity net gain and biosecurity.

Rachel's priority was ensuring the Isle of Man's Biosphere status remains properly supported and used to develop sustainable tourism opportunities.

Oliver Lockwood

Oliver took a detailed policy-focused approach.

He argued for stronger ASSI designation, better rights-of-way access, biodiversity recovery through planning, and greater private-sector investment in nature restoration.

He also highlighted the need to review protected species schedules under the Wildlife Act and update the Biodiversity Strategy.

Lawrie Hooper

Lawrie approached environmental issues from a systems and governance perspective.

On energy, he remarked:

"We are literally burning money."

He strongly supported renewable energy, interim Net Zero targets, marine spatial planning and biodiversity net gain.

One particularly interesting proposal was replacing annual budgeting with multi-year funding cycles:

"The fundamental way you secure sustainable funding... is to move to a multi-year funding cycle."

His preferred first-year priority would be reforming energy generation and consumption in the Island.

Simon Williams

An angler and member of the Recreational Fisheries Management Board, Simon drew heavily on practical experience from rivers and seas around the Island.

Discussing marine protection he said:

"It works. It's so obvious it works."

He supported increased marine conservation, peatland restoration, tree planting and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).

His standout priority was community litter action:

"Stop using it. Don't drop it, pick it up."

Michelle Haywood

Michelle brought a scientific and evidence-led perspective.

She was one of the strongest proponents of BNG and stronger legal duties for nature recovery and accelerated climate adaptation.

Michelle argued forcefully that:

"Once you've lost nature you can't get it back."

Her priorities included implementing BNG and modernising wildlife legislation.