For much of this year, Stromness harbour has had a new occupant. Amongst the dinghies and flatties, and the boats setting off for the creels and to dive in Scapa Flow, the yachts preparing for summer races and the daily crossings of the Hamnavoe – there is the little Shoogly Holm, moored just off the Stromness Museum pier in Alfred Street.

It has been out there in the water on cold nights when the wind has blown off the sea and up the closes and on bright spring mornings with the light sparkling off the water, and with its opportunities for marine life it carries an image developed by artist Jenny Pope for ‘Buoyancy in Unprecedented Times’ – an openness to the natural world and an awareness and somehow staying afloat through whatever the world may throw at us.

This morning we’re going to find out how the natural world has responded to the new home in the harbour. Divers from Sula Diving, helped by a boat from the Nav School (UHI Orkney’s Maritime Studies Department),  will be bringing ashore the floating part of Shoogly Holm, and also its mooring where most of the marine life will have grown and which has till now been below the surface.

Local marine scientists will be on hand to help explain what’s there, among them Dr Karen Boswarva from Seasearch Scotland and Dr Jenni Kakkonen from OIC’s Harbours Department. The various finds will be placed on view in plastic tanks. The surface for life to gather on Shoogly Holm was created by over 120 people, each of whom will be able to see what has been growing on their portion.

With support from Creative Scotland, Orkney Harbours and Xodus

This event is free, but ticketed to keep numbers manageable.

There are two one-hour sessions, each limited to 30 people.

Morning: 11.00 am – 12.00 pm

Afternoon: 12.00 – 1.00 pm

For walking around the beach, stout footwear is advised, and also taking care to avoid any weed-covered areas.

The museum itself is open from 11 am to 4 pm, with time to see the current exhibition of Sea Stories and the natural history collections and to enjoy the maritime atmosphere.

There is also the opportunity at 1 pm to join Katy Firth for a Mini Shoreline Ramble, exploring some of the shoreline close to Stromness Museum and linking the living environment with the museum collection. This runs till 2 pm.

Numbers limited to 10: tickets £5.