Sheep Festival Returns for 2022
North Ronaldsay’s Summer fortnight of sheepdyke rebuilding, culture and conservation returned in August after two years’ delay due to Covid-19. Over 40 volunteers arrived on the island to help with the efforts, and the team managed to rebuild over 200 metres of damaged and fallen sheepdyke (the equivalent to several thousand pounds worth of labor).
This year saw the return of the festival’s popular workshops, talks and activities (including weaving and art workshops, tours of the Wool Mill and Lighthouse and not one but two dances), and welcomed a new volunteer support system in the form of the SheepDyke Crew (including four NRT Directors) and the SheepDyke Wardens, who guided both new and returning visitors with the rebuilding efforts and ensure the event ran smoothly.
Volunteers were each given a Welcome Pack that included a festival programme, map of the island and information pack, plus postcards and a Volunteer Loyalty Card. The more sessions volunteers attended (two 3hr sessions ran per day), the more stamps they could collect – and exchange for limited edition SheepFest merchandise, and vouchers that could be spent anywhere on the island.
To hear more about the festival and see the SheepFest highlights from 2022 visit www.nrsheepfestival.com
The Orkney Sheep Foundation and Sheep Festival Committee would like to thank our funders: The Lennox Hannay Charitable Fund, Awards for All Scotland and VAO.
