Orkney was magnificent. Much more beautiful, much more fertile than I had imagined. And on the surface it seems to be thriving. But since this is a geog blog and not a travelogue, I will not give a full account of where we were and what we did. Instead I will quote from Orkney 2020.
Orkney—key facts
Resident Population 19,245 (2001 Census)
Main towns Kirkwall (pop. 7,500 approx)
Stromness (pop.2,200 approx), both situated on mainland Orkney
Area 100,000 hectares over 67 islands
Industry Tourism, agriculture, fishing, oil processing, craft manufacture and retail
Orkney has 18 inhabited islands, two of which (South Ronaldsay and Burray) are linked to the
Orkney mainland by causeways. Island populations vary in size from a single family to several
hundred, and the geography of Orkney offers a significant challenge to public agencies seeking to
deliver services effectively and efficiently. Orkney 2020 states:
Some of Orkney’s barriers to inclusion are shared with other communities. Poverty may be
less visible in rural areas than in inner cities, but exists nonetheless, and is exacerbated by the
high cost of travel: whether to work, to access shops or services, or to visit friends and
relatives. Those who are disadvantaged by disability, ill health or unemployment will need
their interests represented, and their needs prioritised when targeting resources.
The geography of Orkney gives rise to other barriers to inclusion. It is impossible to achieve
truly equal access to services such as the Pickaquoy Centre when some communities are
several hours away by sea. Many hospital services can only be accessed in mainland Scotland.
Consequently, some compromises are inevitable. We can try to deliver local services which
meet as many needs as possible, and ensure that they are available to all. Where services
cannot be delivered locally, we can do our best to help people to travel to them.
Orkney 2020, OCPP, April 2003
Orkney mainland by causeways. Island populations vary in size from a single family to several
hundred, and the geography of Orkney offers a significant challenge to public agencies seeking to
deliver services effectively and efficiently. Orkney 2020 states:
Some of Orkney’s barriers to inclusion are shared with other communities. Poverty may be
less visible in rural areas than in inner cities, but exists nonetheless, and is exacerbated by the
high cost of travel: whether to work, to access shops or services, or to visit friends and
relatives. Those who are disadvantaged by disability, ill health or unemployment will need
their interests represented, and their needs prioritised when targeting resources.
The geography of Orkney gives rise to other barriers to inclusion. It is impossible to achieve
truly equal access to services such as the Pickaquoy Centre when some communities are
several hours away by sea. Many hospital services can only be accessed in mainland Scotland.
Consequently, some compromises are inevitable. We can try to deliver local services which
meet as many needs as possible, and ensure that they are available to all. Where services
cannot be delivered locally, we can do our best to help people to travel to them.
Orkney 2020, OCPP, April 2003
Orkney’s population has fallen dramatically over the past century, to the point where the survival of the smaller isles communities is uncertain. To quote again from Orkney 2020:
A century ago, Orkney’s population stood at around 29,000. In 2000 it was 19,500 and, if
current trends cannot be reversed, it is forecast to fall to 17,500 by 2016. Over the last 50
years, with the mechanisation of agriculture, there has been a steady drift away from the isles
towards the towns on mainland Orkney, as people move to find work, or to retire closer to
their families. Most of the predicted population decline can be expected to affect the isles and
more remote mainland areas, where it will threaten the survival of communities whose
existence is already marginal. Below a certain critical mass, communities die. There are too
few children to keep a school open, and essential services cannot be provided at a reasonable
cost. Young people move away and there is nobody to replace the older generation.
In 1901, Orkney had 26 inhabited islands; today, only 16 islands have permanently resident
communities. If these fragile communities are to survive and flourish, we need to take action
to halt and reverse the population decline. Lifeline transport services and supply lines must be
kept open, and communities helped to establish new economic activities to replace those in
decline. Young people will always want to move away, to study or travel, and we should
encourage them to do so. Our challenge for Community Planning is to ensure that they can
return to live and work in a thriving community.
Orkney 2020, OCPP, April 2003
A century ago, Orkney’s population stood at around 29,000. In 2000 it was 19,500 and, if
current trends cannot be reversed, it is forecast to fall to 17,500 by 2016. Over the last 50
years, with the mechanisation of agriculture, there has been a steady drift away from the isles
towards the towns on mainland Orkney, as people move to find work, or to retire closer to
their families. Most of the predicted population decline can be expected to affect the isles and
more remote mainland areas, where it will threaten the survival of communities whose
existence is already marginal. Below a certain critical mass, communities die. There are too
few children to keep a school open, and essential services cannot be provided at a reasonable
cost. Young people move away and there is nobody to replace the older generation.
In 1901, Orkney had 26 inhabited islands; today, only 16 islands have permanently resident
communities. If these fragile communities are to survive and flourish, we need to take action
to halt and reverse the population decline. Lifeline transport services and supply lines must be
kept open, and communities helped to establish new economic activities to replace those in
decline. Young people will always want to move away, to study or travel, and we should
encourage them to do so. Our challenge for Community Planning is to ensure that they can
return to live and work in a thriving community.
Orkney 2020, OCPP, April 2003
It is the cry of all small communities. But I will return to visit.
