Wool production in North Ronaldsay
Culture
Drystone dyking, cassie (flood defence) restoration and hand and machine knitting were key elements of the project with practical workshops and training delivered across the north isles, but funding also supported research, traditional straw work sessions, train the trainer sessions, temporary displays, new publications and short films.
Dry Stone Dyking
A rich agricutural heritage across the north isles is marked by dry stone dykes deliniating field patterns and boundaries, and these stone walls have become an important characteristic of the current landscape. A plentiful supply of hard sandstone has supported the traditional dry stone building techniques used for walls and buildings across the isles. With the changes in agricultural practices, increased mechanisation, fewer people, and subsequent increase in field sizes, the significance of the boundary dykes have dwindled, and along with it the skills to maintain and upkeep them. NILPS funding supported a number of workshops and sessions across the isles to help people learn and develop their skills to build and repair dry stone dykes. Sessions varied from 1/2 day taster sessions to more in-depth 2-day workshops. All proved popular and were well received. Over 80 people took part in sessions in total in Eday, Papa Westray, Rousay, Sanday, Shapinsay, Stronsay and Westray.
The North Ronaldsay Sheep Dyke
Nowhere is the significance of the traditional dry stone dyke more apparent in the north isles than in North Ronaldsay. The sheep dyke is a distinct and unique part of the island's built heritage and cultural identity. It encircles North Ronaldsay, separating the improved fields in the centre from the foreshore and suppots one of the last large-scale communal farming systems in Orkney. It was built in 1832 as a continuous dry stone wall and keeps the ancient and unique North Ronaldsay breed of sheep, which primarily feeds on seaweed and ruminates according to the tides, from the grass inland. Too much grass and the North Rondsay sheep are at risk of copper poisoning; they've become adapted to their environment and remain on the shore apart from during short spells when ewes and lambs are brought inland to graze and at other times when they're communally managed and brought into drystone enclosures known locally as 'punds'. Traditionally punding happens 3 times an year - in June or July for shearing, at New Year to select for market and in February to 'score' or carry out a head count. Facing the dual challenge of climate change and accelerating coastal erosion along with an ageing and declining population the future of the sheep dyke had become increasingly uncertain. NILPS funding supported North Ronaldsay Trust to employ a Sheep Dyke warden between 2019 and 2024 to carry out a programme of repairs to help secure its future. The full time post was initially undertaken by one person, but when the first warden resigned the trust then appointed 2 (sometimes 3) individuals on a part time basis.
Cassie (flood defence) Restoration
The focus of this project was Papa Westray. These traditional flood defences have provided an important barrier, protecting the coastline from surrounding seas. The technique has been adapted over the years, but it involves using local stone, positioned along coastal areas suseptible to flooding. Papay Development Trust organised 2 sessions between 2019 and 2024 to enable skills sharing and hands on repair and building experience to take place. NILPS funding supported the trust to deliver the sessions as part of their project 'Restore the Shore' and it subsidised travel costs for people to attend the sessions from further afield. 36 people took part in the skills sharing events in Papay managed by Island Ranger Jonathan Ford (the Papay Ranger) along with artist Saoirse Higgins who created a beautiful film and manual to support thelegacy of the project and potentially share skills to a much wider audience. The film was screened in the Orkney Arts Theatre as part of the 2023 Orkney International Science Festival
A manual to the art of Cassie sea defence wall building on the island of Papay. | The Kelp Store
Hand & Machine Knitting
Knitting is a craft that has been handed down through the generations and many islands have successful knitting and crafting clubs, hubs and groups, not to mention knitwear businesses.
NILPS delivered a project to celebrate
The Isle of Sanday Knitters
This was a knitting company based in Sanday from the late 1970s to the late 1990s that successfully designed, produced and sold traditional wool jumpers throughout the UK and further afield. It started as an idea; Mary Baker, who was married to the then island headteacher recognised the talent in the island and what started as islanders making crochet squares for a fashion company that advertised in a sewing magazine, grew into a successful cooperative that supplied knitwear to the likes of Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman in New York and Hackett and Harrods in London. It gave women in Sanday the opportunity to earn an income for themselves and for Sandra Towrie, who had 3 young children at the time, the chance to travel to trade fairs in Paris, Munich, New York and London. NILPS funding supported Sandra, who had acquired the Isle of Sanday Knitters archive, to work with Sanday Heritage Centre to properly record and store the material and information relating to this important aspect of Sanday's recent history, deliver some traditional knitting sessions at the Sanday Community Crafthub and supported editing and printing costs associated with a book written by Sandra celebrating the Isle of Sanday Knitters story - The Isle of Sanday Knitters - How to
Traditional Straw Work
Jewellery Making
Stronsay based jeweller and designer Marion Miller had delivered some jewellery making sessions, inspired by the landscape, with young people at Papdale Halls of Residence through the NILPS education project, they'd proved really popular and Marion had been asked to deliver sessions for adults in Eday and Stronsay. With NILPS funding Marion was able to deliver 3 courses in late 2024 where people created a range of hand crafted pieces, again inspired by the land and sea around them. Feedback was excellent and the funded sessions enabled Marion to test the market and discover that jewellery making workshops will be something she can develop and continue to offer in the future.
