Love St Kilda appeal is launched

A new fundraising appeal has been launched to look after St Kilda.

20 June 2016

The ‘Love our Islands’ campaign, spearheaded by the islands' owners, the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), comes as the 30th anniversary of its world heritage designation is commemorated.

Environmental and conservation work on St Kilda costs the charity around £270,000 annually.

The archipelago is renowned for its remote and sea-swept position, with islands that are home to hundreds of thousands of seabirds and provided a unique and challenging lifestyle for generations of residents until the last families were eventually evacuated in 1930.

The trust maintains and repairs the historic ‘street’ of Village Bay and the distinctive ‘cleits’ dotted across the islands.

It also monitors its seabird colonies - the largest in the north-east Atlantic, with around 600,000 birds nesting each year.

NTS chairman, Sir Moir Lockhead, said: “St Kilda received its first world heritage designation for its natural environment 30 years ago and in 2005 it was the first UK site to gain mixed designation for both culture and environment.

“Its remote location, outstanding natural beauty and the dramatic story of the people who once lived there have captivated people across the centuries and it still holds an allure for many people today.

“More importantly, anyone who cares about our seabirds and the wider health of our oceans will appreciate the work we carry out here year on year at St Kilda.

Our seabird survey from St Kilda is providing us with vital information which appears to shows major impacts of on sea conditions and the species which depend on the marine environment."