Also in the news / Brae district heating meeting, accessible libraries, PhD request and more …
PEOPLE are being invited to have their say on a new district heating scheme for Brae at a public drop-in event next month.
Energy and engineering consultants COWI, who have been appointed to conduct a feasibility study for the project, will host the event on Tuesday 10 June alongside Shetland Islands Council.
Attendees can find out more about the plans and speak with members of the team, with feedback gathered to help shape the future of the project.
The drop-in event is taking place from 3.30-7.30pm at Brae Hall.
The study being is fully funded by the UK Government’s innovation agency Innovate UK, and is looking to see if a heating network is viable in the area.
The aim is to provide lower heating bills and a more environmentally friendly way to heat homes, businesses and community buildings, such as the leisure centre and Brae High School.
It will assess the feasibility of using renewable energy, such as a dedicated wind turbine to help to power the network.
COWI project manager Jeppe K. Skjølstrup said the scheme was an “exciting opportunity” to show how energy could deliver “real benefits at a community level”.
“Although concepts are still at the early stages, we’re keen to hear what local people think,” he said.
“Lerwick already has a well-established district heating network and the system in central Brae would work in a similar way.”
SHETLAND Library will be championing the importance of accessible libraries and the work they do for those with sight issues next month.
The library will be celebrating HiVis fortnight from 1 to 14 June. Library staff will be highlighting services such as the talking newspaper, home deliveries, audiobooks, eBooks, magnifiers, lights, large format jigsaws and games.
The talking newspaper is a longstanding library service which involves staff and volunteers reading and recording The Shetland Times every Friday and posting audio recordings to visually impaired users.
During HiVis fortnight all talking newspaper customers will receive a special additional recording of Lerwick resident John Evans from the Library’s Memories group.
John speaks about growing up in Lerwick, life around the lanes and his involvement with Lerwick Up Helly Aa. The library will also be hosting a vision services information drop-in on Monday 2 June from 5.30-7pm.
Attendees can find out about accessible ICT, budgeting and benefit checks, library services, the talking newspaper and all the work that partners do.
SEAFOOD Shetland has taken part in the official launch of a four-year project aiming to equip the European aquaculture sector adapt to and mitigate against climate change.
OCCAM (Operationalising Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in European Aquaculture) was launched on May 1 in Tromsø in Norway.
The project, which is being funded by Horizon Europe, aims to pilot new aquaculture practices that will reduce environmental impact while still being economically viable.
Other aims include “smarter, climate-resilient decision-making” and collaboration between stakeholders, scientists and policymakers.
Seafood Shetland said with climate change posing increasing risks to marine ecosystems and coastal communities”, OCCAM was a “timely and vital step toward securing a sustainable future for European aquaculture”.
Chief executive Ruth Henderson said: “Our seafood industry depends on the natural environment, so it is vitally important that we collaborate with our European partners in aquaculture to share knowledge, adopt best practice, and do what we can to minimise the impact of climate change.”
THE CONGREGATION of St Magnus Episcopal Church in Lerwick have been rewarded for their efforts in tackling climate change.
The church received a bronze award from Eco Congregation Scotland at a special celebration Eucharist on Sunday 25 May.
Marilyn Pope, the convener of St Magnus eco group, received the award on behalf of the congregation from Salvation Army Major Dave Womersley.
She said they were “delighted” to receive the award for their work in areas such as their carbon footprint and integrating creation themes into their workshop.
However she added it was “only the first step on the much longer journey of looking to live more sustainably as a church community and as individuals.”
The episcopal churches of St Magnus in Lerwick and St Colman in Burravoe have also recently welcomed Rev Helen Mary Sage to their volunteer clergy.
Rev Martin Randall, who presided at the service to welcome her in, said: “We look forward to sharing ministry with Helen Mary, not only at St Magnus’ and St Colman’s, but also in our Christian witness to the various communities in Shetland.”
THE WEAVING Shed Gallery in Hillswick is opening its doors during a long weekend in June for a rare exhibition of sculpture and art.
Visiting sculptor Philip Kenolty will be at the gallery from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 June. Opening hours are from 12pm until 5pm each day.
The open days will give many people the opportunity to meet the artist and gallery owner Geoff Jukes who restored the building in tribute to his late wife, the artist Jeannette-Therese Obstoj.
For more information on the opening weekend contact Andrea Bridger on andreabridgeruk@gmail.com
A RESEARCHER from the University of Glasgow is seeking interviewees to discuss the creation and development of Shetland Charitable Trust.
PhD researcher Isla Kinnear is working under the supervision of Ewan Gibbs, who has previously conducted research in Shetland.
She said she also wanted to speak to people about how 1970s Shetland fits into the argument between national versus public interest in energy policy.
Shetland will be the third and final case study in her thesis following work on hydro-electricity at Loch Sloy and wind energy in Fintry, Glasgow.
Kinnear will be in Shetland from 24 June to 3 July 2025, based firstly in the South Mainland and then later in Lerwick.
You can contact her via this email address if you would be interested in being interviewed for her thesis: isla.kinnear@glasgow.ac.uk
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