PODCAST: Ryan Thomson – tackling the scourge of single-use plastic

U-turn made over closure of Yell post office

There has been a U-turn over plans to close the post office in Burravoe.

Earlier this week, Post Office Ltd said it was not looking to replace the branch once Burravoe’s postmistress steps down from the role.

However, the company confirmed this afternoon it was reversing this decision.

“With the retirement of the long-serving postmistress in Burravoe in July, we have now agreed to advertise the vacancy to try to maintain Post Office services in this remote community.

“We are aware that there is a new shop opening in Burravoe and we would welcome the opportunity to discuss the business opportunity with them or anyone else.”

The Post Office added the vacancy in Burravoe would soon be advertised here.

POLL: Should there be less mowing of grass verges? 

A letter in today’s newspaper has called for people to mow grass verges less often in order to protect biodiversity.

The author of the letter said that when they moved to Shetland in the 1970s they had been “overwhelmed” by the beauty of the isles – particularly the abundance of wild flowers.

When Shetland Islands Council started moving the verges while they were in full bloom, the writer said they wrote to the newspaper to complain about the situation, along with others.

They said the council now took a more considered approach to mowing verges – and they also accepted that an early or late high cut was necessary to deal with “noxious weeds and blind corners”.

But they said the problem was now with people mowing their gardens – and carrying on to mow the verges beyond.

“I am writing, distressed, once again 47 years later to ask folk in the country districts to value the beauty and biodiversity they have taken for granted or destroyed.

“It seems to have become more and more the fashion in the South Mainland country districts to severely mow, not only your own piece of lawn or verge, but 20, 30, 100 yards down the road as well.

“I don’t want to fall out with my neighbours and people are entitled to do what they like on their own land, but please leave the rest of the verge flowers for those of use who appreciate their value and importance.”

What do you think? Take part in our poll and let us know.

Son republishes late father’s Papa Stour book

An author’s lifelong passion for preserving Papa Stour’s rich heritage has been revitalised in a new edition – complete with colour photos and a hand-drawn map.

George PS Peterson first published The Coastal Place-names of Papa Stour in 1993 based on a series of articles he wrote for Shetland Life in the late 1980s.

The book takes readers on a clockwise tour of the island’s coast, pausing to explore possible origins of the place-names and interlacing fragments of long-forgotten social history, spanning centuries.

The author spent his formative years during the 1930s and 40s in his ancestral home of Papa Stour.

Being immersed in island life, as one of more than 100 residents at the time, he developed what was to become a lifelong passion for preserving the island’s rich heritage.

Now his son, Peter WK Peterson, has helped preserve his late father’s legacy with this new edition, which is illustrated with colour photos throughout.

Writing in the foreword, the younger Mr Peterson recalled how he and his father had discussed the potential of republishing the book.

“As well as the fact the original was long out of print, visitors dropping by my parents’ home would sometimes ask if there were any copies available,” he wrote.

“Sadly, Dad passed away in November 2022, aged 90, so we didn’t have a chance to work together on this.

“However, I know he would have been delighted to see it back in print.

“The new edition has been an absolute pleasure to work on over the past couple of years.

“As well as adding colour photos to help illustrate Dad’s words, the text has been updated in a few places and some new content added from a notebook he produced in 1978 containing descriptions, anecdotes and explanations of dozens of places around Papa – the source material for the original book.

“I hope readers enjoy this updated version and might even take some time to visit the island to seek out a few of the places mentioned.”

• The Coastal Place-names of Papa Stour has been published by The Shetland Times Ltd and is available to buy from The Shetland Times Bookshop for £10.99.