Events for October 6, 2026 › Island Sheep and Island Futures

North Ronaldsay’s wool mill is expanding into new premises, with a meat larder alongside at a new commercial hub for the island. North Ronaldsay Trust's Community Development Manager Luke Fraser describes the project. We hear about the sheep and their traditional management from the Clerk to the Sheep Court, Michael Scott. Tim Ross describes the success of the North Ronaldsay Sheep Festival in repairing the 13-mile-long sheep dyke, and Jane Cooper reports on work on facilities for meat.

Meg Rodger from Berneray founded the Birlinn Wool Company to sell the yarn from pedigree Hebridean sheep from her own flock and from neighbouring crofts. She works to a ‘whole sheep plan’ – covering yarn, sheepskins and meat boxes, and has woven a traditional Norse cloak. Alison Gault of Belfast School of Art describes community wool initiatives for Rathlin Island and for the Aran Islands, with computer-aided design and manufacture involved.