Public Open Day Friday 20 May
After two years of Covid restrictions on how we an all meet up we are delighted to now be able to host our first project public open day since trapping began back in August 2019. Everyone is welcome just to drop by Friday 20 May between 10am to 3pm at Mull Head nature reserve visitor centre. Come and experience hands on conservation and wildlife management with us – the world’s largest stoat eradication in a populated place.
The dog handling teams, crucial to detecting stoats, will be running demonstrations throughout the day showing just how they don’t hunt the stoat but are crucial in pinpointing their whereabouts so the trap network can be adjusted to catch them.
Our wildlife monitoring team will also be there and there will be a chance to join them and look for the elusive Orkney vole as well as many games and activities for all the family – with refreshments too! There is much more detail on our website.
As it is over the Orkney Nature Festival weekend you could also take the opportunity for a nice walk along to the Gloup celebrating the magnificence of Orkney’s nature! Also check out our events at this year's festival below.
Orkney Nature Festival back live for 2022!
We are as thrilled as anyone that the Orkney Nature Festival is back live and in person after two years away. The packed programme has four days of activities taking place across the islands from 19-22 May.
We are joining with many other local groups, businesses, and individuals, all eager to get involved in celebrating Orkney’s unique wildlife and natural heritage. Join us for unique and special insight to the island of Graemsay on Thursday 19 May, with our own Douggie Beaumont, ONWP Assistant Biosecurity Officer. He will be your guide on a guided walk around the island, showing you all the natural hidden gems that the island has to offer. Douggie visits Graemsay, one of Orkney’s smaller and lesser-known islands, every month to check the coastal network of traps which act as an early warning system for any stoat crossing the seas. The five-hour walk will take you round the edge of the island along a path that is not well travelled so sensible footwear and reasonable fitness is advised. Free tickets and full details can be booked via this Eventbrite link
Spaces are limited to both so do book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!For something a bit more sedate, but equally interesting, our experienced and dedicated Biosecurity Officer will give a talk explaining island biosecurity on Thursday 19 May at 1900hrs at the ONWP offices in Hatston, Kirkwall.
He will explain how stoats can have a detrimental impact on our native species, as well as explaining how we can all help to ensure Orkney doesn’t fall victim to further stoat incursions. Tickets are free to the talk and can be booked via this Eventbrite link.
Biosecurity is working thanks to the island communities
Invasive non-native animal migrations are usually a human-made problem, and as well as this early warning system of stoats reaching the isles, we have also been working with island communities to set up plans to help protect their wildlife.We know that stoats can swim up to three kilometres, so there has long been a coastal network of traps along the shoreline to catch any stoat potentially reaching neighbouring isles.
The biosecurity team have been bowled over by this wonderful support which created island-specific plans to safeguard their shores from stoats. Beyond the usual consultations, meetings, and deliberations on what goes into the plans the team has been overwhelmed by the warm welcomes and enthusiastic support.The communities of Flotta, Graemsay, Hoy and Walls have now signed-off their first ever biosecurity plans. This teamwork sets out the plans, preparations and how to prevent stoats spreading to each of their stoat-free isles.
This is great news for the rich native wildlife on the islands, which would be hit hard should stoats arrive there. We’re so grateful to the island folk who helped us achieve this mammoth task with such warmth and hospitality. This wouldn’t have been possible without the continued assistance of everyone dedicated to their island’s natural heritage.
We are also delighted to declare with confidence that Rousay, Eynhallow, Flotta, Graemsay, Hoy and Walls are stoat-free at present after months of methodical checks by the dog teams who trudged high and low in all weathers looking for signs of stoats on the islands.
Until our next issue, you can keep up with our progress via our Facebook page and our monthly column in the Orcadian newspaper. We welcome your feedback so if you have any questions at all please feel free to contact us.