Historic Orkney 1988

The shore-lashing gale has destroyed a large part of the dyke. Repair is urgent. This dry-stone blockade which normally encircles the entire coastline of North Ronaldsay is to keep sheep on the beach. It is the only protection the island’s grass and crops have from the seaweedeating sheep which inhabit this northernmost isle in a group of seventy which make up The Orkneys.

Here, the community responsibility is such that when disasters strike, able-bodied men from other islands leave their work and spend what time and effort is required to get the dyke mended as quickly as possible: several days’ hard work, in this case, manipulating the stones back into place.