Orkney’s seagrass beds the focus of new Westray Heritage Centre exhibition

A deep-rooted partnership project between primary pupils at Westray Junior High School and the island’s Heritage Centre has led to the opening of a new exhibition focusing on seagrass beds. 

The exhibition running now celebrates a project by the school’s lower primary. It was led and delivered by Katy Waring, a Masters student with Heriot Watt University, in partnership with class teacher Kate Skellern. 

The new exhibition is the culmination of in-class learning, a visit to the shore and art sessions with Angie Stout who is also a member of the Westray Heritage Centre. 

Much of the learning and activity happened during the Autumn of 2022; the then P1 – P3 class (now P2-4) spent time exploring the wealth of marine wildlife that lives in seagrass beds around Westray and learned about the important processes that this special habitat supports, such as sediment stabilisation and carbon storage. 

The project ran alongside research undertaken by Heriot Watt University to survey the seagrass bed at Tuquoy Bay in Westray, using a special remote video camera system. 

Katy Waring, who is now Senior Conservation Officer in Scotland with Project Seagrass, said: “Thanks to NILPS and Katy Firth for this opportunity to shine a light-on and celebrate Westray’s seagrass meadows with the community. Working with the students, staff and parents at Westray primary was a joy, their enthusiasm, curiosity and care for the local marine environment was inspiring.

"Orkney has some of the most pristine meadows in the UK, these powerhouse marine plants providing multiple ecosystem services for people and planet. Their leafy underwater canopy provides a home for many marine species, increasing biodiversity and, as my research found, a nursery ground for commercially important fish, such as cod and saithe. Unfortunately, meadows are in decline globally due to human made stressors, so projects like this raising awareness and building local stewardship can’t be understated. I am looking forward to visiting Westray and the Heritage centre soon, thanks to all involved.”

Katy Firth who coordinates the North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme’s education programme and was actively involved in this project with Katy Waring, helped pull together the new display panels for the Heritage Centre. The display illustrates the importance of seagrass beds worldwide and the lower primary pupils visited the Heritage Centre recently to see their work on display and officially ‘open’ the exhibition. 

Katy Firth said: “An educational project of this nature helps our young folk develop a greater understanding and a renewed respect for their natural heritage and how we all have an important role to play in looking after our natural habitats.” 

The project reflects the close working relationship between the school and the Heritage Centre. 

Class teacher, Kate Skellern, said: "The children really loved learning about seagrass and the important job it does, and still talk about the project even now!" 

Comments from some of the pupils:  

"I loved going to the beach to find seagrass." (Louis)  

"I even dreamed about seagrass!"  

"I liked learning about seagrass!" 

Angie Stout said: "We had great fun working with “the two” and that inspired us to illustrate our learning with different art ideas. It’s exciting for the children to see their work displayed in the Heritage Centre and to see Raymond Besant’s amazing seagrass photographs, also exhibited there.” 

Alasdair McVicar, Chair of the Westray Heritage Trust, said: “We are delighted to have an excellent seagrass display in the Heritage Centre, the result of the involvement of the pupils from Westray School in the NILP project. 

“Encouraging the interest of youngsters in the local environment and heritage is important to our aims in the Centre, so it was particularly special to welcome an enthusiastic group of pupils, their teachers and parents to the opening of the display on Friday 27 April. Young people are the potential future of the Heritage Centre.” 

From 1 May the Westray Heritage Centre is open Monday – Saturday 9:00am – 12:00pm and 2:00pm – 5:00pm and Sunday: 1:30pm – 5:00pm.  

The project was funded by North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme, a £4.5m programme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, Orkney Islands Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, NatureScot and the Orkney LEADER 2014-2020. It supports projects that promote the culture, heritage and landscape of the North Isles and will run until December 2024.