£4.5m North Isles Landscape Scheme gets go-ahead from National Lottery

Orkney Islands Council has welcomed the announcement that it has secured funding from the National Lottery for a £4.5m North Isles Landscape Scheme.

The scheme will create four full-time jobs in Orkney, and support and encourage heritage based development and promotion of built, natural and cultural heritage in Orkney’s North Isles.

The Heritage Lottery Fund on Tuesday announced that it will support the scheme with an investment of just over £2.8m, following submission of the council’s final project proposal.

Additional funding will come from Orkney Islands Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Historic Environment Scotland, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and in-kind contributions from North Isles community groups.

The North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme will build on the success of the award-winning Scapa Flow Landscape Partnership Scheme which ran between 2009 and 2012.

Councillor Graham Sinclair is a North Isles councillor and chairman of the council’s development and infrastructure committee.

Giving his reaction, he said: “This is great news for the North Isles. As well as supporting jobs, the scheme will raise the profile of the North Isles and its diverse landscapes and communities.

“Through the delivery of a number of projects the scheme will raise awareness of, conserve and enhance our islands’ distinct identities. The aspiration is to make heritage more accessible, encouraging the involvement of young people and the sharing of heritage between generations.

“Months of work has gone into securing this funding, including a huge amount of support and commitment from isles residents and partner agencies. I congratulate the project team and residents on their success and look forward to the project getting underway and seeing the positive impact it will have on our island communities.”

Further details in The Orcadian on Thursday.