Thursday 14th May 2026
Nature Inspired Pottery with Robin Palmer
Join Robin Palmer at his pottery studio in Kirkwall to try your hand at making textured pots inspired by nature.
Unnatural Arrivals – The Stoat Crisis in Orkney
🕒 10:30 to 17:00
📌 Orkney Museum (open map)
💰 Free (donations welcome)
🔢 All ages (under 16s must be accompanied)
This exhibition brings together artists responding to a dramatic ecological change in Orkney. Since 2010, stoats (Mustela erminea)—a species not native to the islands—have spread rapidly, threatening ground-nesting birds, hen harriers, short-eared owls, and the unique Orkney vole.
Through painting, sculpture, photography, and more, the works explore the impact of this invasion on the islands’ fragile ecosystem, as well as the wider questions it raises about conservation, intervention, and coexistence. Drawing on local knowledge and scientific research, and informed by efforts such as the Orkney Native Wildlife Project, the exhibition offers a powerful reflection on nature, balance, and change.
Nature art with Species on the Edge and local Orkney artist Sarah Crowe
Join Species on the Edge and local Orkney artist Sarah Crowe as we enjoy a time
of connecting mindfully to nature through art. This will be an outdoor event in Kirkwall, and no art skills are necessary! All materials will be provided including a free art notebook and pencil to takeaway.
Sarah Crowe is an artist, plant biogeographer and positive environmentalist living and working in Stromness, specialising in botanical and landscape work using pencil, graphite, ink and watercolour. Sarah’s website is sarahkcrowe.com This event is being run by Species on the Edge, an exciting partnership programme of NatureScot and seven nature conservation charities, all dedicated to improving the fortunes of 37 priority species found along Scotland’s coast and islands. Find out more here: http://www.speciesontheedge.co.uk.
Moving Montanes with the Cairngorms Connect Tree Nursery
🕒 19:00
📌 Live Online Talk
💰 £2
🔢 All ages (under 16s must be accompanied)
Cairngorms Connect is the UK’s biggest habitat restoration project. It is a partnership of neighbouring land managers, committed to a bold and ambitious 200-year vision to enhance habitats, species, and ecological processes across a vast area in the Scottish Highlands.
The project comprises woodland, peatland, and freshwater restoration work and a key focus of the programme is to facilitate the involvement of the local community. In this talk, project lead Dr Helen Taylor, will focus on the incredible work of the Cairngorms Connect Tree Nursery, which has played a key role in restoring a little-know habitat, montane woodland. Alongside Cairngorms Connect support staff, the tree nursery is powered by its incredibly dedicated volunteer team and is an excellent example of the crucial links between the Cairngorms Connect landscape and its community.
Helen will introduce the montane woodland ecosystem, explain the work of the tree nursery, and discuss future directions for this well-loved and ambitious project.
A link to the talk will be sent after booking.
Hoy Sunset Wildlife Cruise
Set sail from Stromness on a captivating 2-hour evening wildlife tour along the dramatic coastline of Hoy. As the golden light of dusk settles over the cliffs, we journey towards the towering sea cliffs of St John’s Head, home to thriving seabird colonies. Keep watch for guillemots, fulmars, kittiwakes, and puffins as they wheel and call above the crashing waves below.
Continuing south, we approach the iconic Old Man of Hoy, a striking sea stack rising from the Atlantic, where the changing evening light creates a truly unforgettable view. With calm seas and the chance of spotting seals, porpoises, or even a dolphin, this relaxing evening cruise offers a perfect blend of scenery, wildlife, and atmosphere in one of Orkney’s most breathtaking settings.
In the event of adverse weather conditions the tour route may be changed to allow it to go ahead. This will be at the discretion of the skipper.
