Tannery up for award

THE SHETLAND Tannery, which processes local sheep, goat and cattle hides, is up for an award this week.

The business is based on a croft at the Knowes in Gluss, Ollaberry, and was started by Natalie Cairns-Ratter. She is travelling to Worcestershire for the finals of the British Farming Awards.

Shetland Tannery is shortlisted in the diversification innovator of the year category, and the winner will be announced at a dinner in the Chateau Impney Hotel in Droitwich on Thursday evening.

Cairns-Ratter is keeping her fingers crossed: “I think the Shetland Tannery is quite well known in Shetland now, but I am thrilled to be getting exposure at this level,” she said. “Whatever happens now I am pretty excited to have been shortlisted against some fierce competition.”