Spring is creeping up on us here in the Northern Isles, even if March has
come in like the proverbial lion. Our ancestors told tales about the Sea Mither,
the spirit of summer, who wakes up around the spring equinox to battle her
archenemy, Teran, the spirit of winter, in what is called the "Vore tullye" or the
"spring struggle"- said to be the cause of our infamous springtime storms!
come in like the proverbial lion. Our ancestors told tales about the Sea Mither,
the spirit of summer, who wakes up around the spring equinox to battle her
archenemy, Teran, the spirit of winter, in what is called the "Vore tullye" or the
"spring struggle"- said to be the cause of our infamous springtime storms!
But in between the stormy days we’ve had the rare lovely afternoon
lately, where the sun peeks out and everything smells fresh, and that’s when we
pull on wellies and head out for a dose of vitamin nature. At first glance, the
hauntingly beautiful land and seascapes of Orkney and Shetland may seem
devoid of much flora and fauna, but just because there are not many trees here,
don’t be fooled! Buffeted by the North Sea and the Atlantic, these rugged islands
are paradise to a remarkable array of flora and fauna that, like we islanders, have
adapted to thrive in such a challenging environment, including some of
Scotland’s most iconic animals and flowers.
A recent stroll revealed that cheerful herald of spring, the snowdrop. Its
pristine white petals are a welcome sight after the long winter months. Binscarth
Woods, near Finstown in Orkney, is famous for its snowdrop collection, a
forested floor carpeted in clusters of brilliant white. It was a walk here on one
rare sunny March day that inspired designer- and our resident “Flower Girl”-
Teresa Shearer, to create our Snowdrop range. Snowdrops symbolise hope,
rebirth and new beginnings, and our exclusive pendant, bracelet and earrings
feature delicate pearl to set off the classic silver, evoking the very spirit of spring.
We always find encouragement on our island walks. As the season
progresses, the landscape bursts into colour with wildflowers, including the
ubiquitous forget-me-nots, their tiny blue blossoms carpeting meadows and
adorning coastal paths. A favourite spot to see them is on the path between
Cubbie Roo’s Castle and St Mary’s Chapel. Here you’ll also see pretty little
tormentil flowers, which symbolise fondness, or in Old Norse, “Elska”. Both their
fragile beauty and their obvious symbolism once again inspired Teresa, resulting
in our popular Forget-Me-Not and Elska collections.
From the iconic puffin to the majestic orca, the Northern Isles offer a
wealth of wildlife encounters, especially if you get out on the water. One of our
favourite denizens of these islands is undoubtedly the Atlantic Puffin. During the
breeding season, from late spring to summer, puffins flock to the cliffs of Orkney
and Shetland in the thousands, creating a vibrant and noisy spectacle. Sumburgh
Head and Hermaness in Shetland are just two places where you can watch these
charismatic creatures waddling on the clifftops or plunging into the sea in search
of sand eels. It is such an unforgettable experience that we created a line of
jewellery to celebrate this beloved bird in a brooch, charm, earrings and
pendant.
The awe-inspiring Orca, also known as the killer whale, (even though they
are actually a type of dolphin) are frequent visitors to our northern waters- in fact, 90% of UK sightings are here. Witnessing the sleek, black and white bodies
swimming as family pods is a truly breathtaking experience, one that inspired
our Orca range, featuring this magnificent creature breaching the waves in
shimmering silver.
More elusive, but oh so loveable, are the playful otters, those nimble
cuties that thrive in the sheltered bays and rocky coastlines. It takes patient
observation, but if you are lucky, you’ll spot one, hunting for crabs in the kelp
forests, or smashing shellfish with a rock to dig out the moreish treats inside. It’s
a joy to watch, and inspired our cheeky Otter jewellery range.
From sculpted sea animals to intricate flowers, each piece of our jewellery
is handcrafted in gold or silver using ancient smithing techniques passed on
through the generations. Don’t forget, we also offer free gift wrapping and
affordable worldwide shipping, so browse our Flora and Fauna collection today,
starting at under £50, and discover a timeless treasure that celebrates the unique
natural heritage of Orkney and Shetland!
The full Fauna & Flora range is available for worldwide shipping online here and in our shops at Albert Street, Kirkwall; Rotterdam Street, Thurso and Commercial Street, Lerwick.