NORTH RONALDSAY has a vacancy for a fit and outgoing individual to take on the Herculean task of maintaining its famous sheep dyke – the 13 kilometre stone construction that keeps the island's famed seaweed-eating sheep on the foreshore and out of the interior.

Native sheep are a vital part of the island's economy, with both North Ronaldsay mutton and wool exported around the world.

The sheep dyke 'warden' role is being funded for an initial three years by the North Isles Landscape Partnership and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with the aim of fulfilling the need, long-recognised locally, for someone dedicated to the wall's repair and improvement.

The 6ft high dyke was erected in the 1800s using beach stones and encircles the entire island. It is Grade A listed and recognised as the longest freestanding drystone structure in Europe, if not the World.

It came about as a result of the collapse of Orkney’s kelp industry - the then Laird, John Traill, decided that the most lucrative use of the island’s land would be agriculture and cattle farming, but to utilise the available acreage to its full potential, the native sheep had to be pushed off the pasture and onto the foreshore, confined to just 271 acres of sand and rock.

Contrary to expectations, the small and hardy flock thrived in their new habitat, quickly adapting to an almost exclusive diet of seaweed washed onshore from the North Atlantic. This mineral-rich and bountiful resource now feeds some 3000 sheep on the Island, which are only brought inland for the short lambing season.

Uniquely, the North Ronaldsay flock are actually at their prime weight in Winter, when stormy seas throw even more generous quantities of kelp onto the foreshore – a recipe for survival in an otherwise unforgiving environment. 

However, the same storms and high tides have destroyed much of the dyke and there is an urgent need to carry out rebuilding and repairs. The warden role will require 'close liaison' with sheep owners and the ‘Sheep Court’, which is responsible for looking after the communally managed flock.

Whoever successfully applies to be its full-time carer will have to have a good level of physical fitness to do the work, but also good communication and project management skills to deal with groups of volunteer dyke builders and the local community, to undertake a pre-determined programme of rebuilding and repairs, whilst also being responsible for managing and carrying out repairs to the temporary fencing erected where the dyke has been damaged.

North Ronaldsay Trust chair John Scott said: "The warden role was always something we've wanted on the island as the amount of dyke that needs rebuilt is beyond what local people can do.

"If we have a person who's full-time, we can get more dyke built and more critical 'strategic' dyke built too. They need to be physically able, resourceful and fairly resilient as it's hard work.

"Given the unique nature of the sheep dyke's construction, we're not necessarily looking for someone who has a lot of experience in dry-stane dyking," he added. "It could just be someone who is able to pick up the necessary skills fairly quickly, while showing a willingness to roll up their sleeves and contribute to all other aspects of daily island life."

The closing date for applications is Friday August 9, 2019. Interviews will be held from the end of August. If you would like to find out more, contact vacancies@northronaldsay.com.