Puffins, Pizza & Community: A trip to the Islands of Papay and Sanday

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Orkney islands of Papay (Papa Westray) and Sanday to meet with their Development Trusts and get a feel for the amazing community work happening on the ground.

In Papay, Jennifer from the Development Trust took me along for a brilliant tour of the island, just as locals were gearing up for the annual Papay Fun Weekend. The island was gorgeous and bright with colours, there were puffins nesting along the cliffs and Scottish primroses everywhere. I met with James the Gardener, who shared his knowledge of growing food in the island’s unique conditions, and even got stuck in at a sheep shearing session, helping to roll fleeces and soak up the sense of teamwork that comes with island life.

Over in Sanday, I was welcomed by Kieron from the Development Trust, who introduced me to a number of people leading brilliant local projects. I got to know Jim and Jake, two gardeners who are not only growing produce but also working on dune restoration which combines climate action and community care. After meeting with Jim and Jake, I popped into the Sanday Craft Hub to meet David and Tracy, who are supporting local creatives and building connections across the island. Later, I caught up with Dan, Chair of the Sanday Business Forum, to hear how businesses on the island are working together to strengthen the local economy.

Obviously no visit would be complete without food so I stopped in for lunch at the UK’s most northerly woodfired pizzeria. A very tasty treat and a perfect example of rural enterprise thriving in rural communities. Yummy!