We have some exciting imagery to share with you!

Teams have been working on transforming the 3-hectare space at Papdale East, from the groundworks by Andrew Sinclair Contractors to volunteers from Development and Marine Planning planting wildflowers.

Local voters are being reminded that key deadlines are approaching ahead of the Local Government Elections on 5 May 2022.

People aged 16 or over, on 5 May, can vote in the election. The deadline for making sure you are registered to vote is Monday 18 April. If you haven't received your poll card yet then you should make sure you are registered and you can do this online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Alternatively, phone our local Electoral Registration Office on 01856 876222 or email ero@orkney.gov.uk to request an application form.

A Church of Scotland Minister has called on other churches and denominations in Orkney to put forward nominations for representatives to join him sitting on the Council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Committee.

Rev Fraser Macnaughton, Minister of St Magnus Cathedral, says his appointment last year is a  “privilege” and it is a role which he takes very seriously.

The beautifully transformed vestibule at the main entrance to St Magnus Cathedral is now open for the first time in two years.

The Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Lord Wallace, will be performing a sermon in the Cathedral on Palm Sunday, 11 April, and has been asked to give a short dedication, which will be followed by a blessing from Cathedral Minister, Rev Fraser Macnaughton.

A former Council employee who has made Ukraine his home – is now safely back in the UK.

Ian Ward and his wife Svetlana fled their city home in Kyiv shortly after the Russian invasion in February.

They were stuck on the outskirts of the country for a time but made it to Hamburg in Germany and have now reached Britain.

Primary school bairns just wanted to dance with somebody as part of a national touring project that brought the Barrowland Ballet’s Family Portrait to Orkney.

It was a welcome return to face-to-face arts experiences as part of the Theatre in Schools Scotland, the National Theatre of Scotland and Imaginate’s successful schools touring project, in Orkney primary schools from 21-28 March.

The award-winning interactive video installation and accompanying outdoor dance-based workshop visited P4 - P7 classes in Glaitness School, Papdale Primary, St Andrews Primary, Stromness Primary and Dounby Community School, also signalled a return to live touring. The tour was supported by Orkney Islands Council and Northlink Ferries.

Links between Orkney and Norway were further sealed last week with the reaffirmation of the friendship agreement between the county and Vestland.

The long-standing twinning arrangement has been in place since 1983 – 40 years in 2023 - initially with Hordaland and the formal agreement was reaffirmed by Vestland County Council. The County of Vestland which was created in 2020 when the former counties of Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane merged.

Those are the words of some of the many young people who enjoy an array of free Friday afternoon activities in Kirkwall and Stromness.

An earlier trial led by the Council’s Community Learning and Development (CLD) Team proved to be a success and now the free activities at the Picky Centre and the Stromness Community Centre (in partnership with Action for Children) will be continuing right up until the summer holidays. The offer is also being opened up further to all young people aged 12-18 whether home schooled, at school, college or working.

After more than 30 years making a difference to the lives of young people throughout Orkney, the Council’s Maureen Herdman has decided to pass the baton on to someone else.

Her last working day as a Youth and Family Learning Worker was – April 1 – and unfortunately, it’s no April Fool’s Day joke, she really is retiring.

As the better weather approaches, Orkney’s Road Safety Forum is urging drivers to show consideration towards horse riders, by passing wide and slow.

The Highway Code, which was updated in January this year, sets out that drivers should not exceed 10mph when passing horses and their riders, and to not accelerate suddenly or rev your engine until well past the animal.

Drivers should also maintain at least 2m distance when passing.