The NR Sheep Festival

CONSERVATION THROUGH RESTORATION

The North Ronaldsay Sheep Festival is a working holiday like no other: the opportunity to discover a new skill or further an existing ability while helping to conserve and preserve a piece of living history.

Make a difference

Winter storms have caused catastrophic damage to the historic Sheep Dyke that surrounds the island of North Ronaldsay, leaving the island’s unique seaweed-eating sheep vulnerable to copper poisoning and mixing their gene-pool through cross-breeding with non-native sheep. The NRT, along with the Orkney Sheep Foundation, are looking for volunteers to come to the Island and take part in North Ronaldsay’s Sheep Festival.

A working holiday like no other

The two-week event focuses on conserving the Island’s ancient breed through the restoration of the Sheep Dyke. You will be guided under the knowledge passed down through generations of islanders. Building a Sheep Dyke differs from a traditional drystone wall and here you will have the opportunity to learn from the experts.

There is plenty of room for volunteers of all levels of experience, the only thing you need is enthusiasm and a sense of adventure!

“The Sheep Festival will bring together islanders and volunteers in the shared effort of restoring this unique sheepdyke.”