NTS Project Development Manager - Shetland

Tender description

Standing at the most northerly point of the British Isles are the islands of Unst & Yell. Set amongst the wild landscape of Shetland, much of the land cared for by the National Trust for Scotland (the Trust) reflects the incredibly rich natural and cultural heritage of the islands. At its core is Halligarth House and Designed Landscape on Unst, the former home of the Saxby and Edmonston families, a local dynasty of physicians and natural scientists who wrote works on the birds of Shetland and pioneered conservation work on the islands. In 1998, the Trust was gifted eight parcels of land on Unst, several properties, the Island of Daaey, and one parcel of land on Yell by Miss I.D.J Sandison. In May 1999, the Trust agreed to declare parts of Unst & Yell inalienable, in accordance with the wishes of the donor. A 3 phase project sets out a renewed approach for conservation management and the visitor experience. 1. Stabilise the condition and appearance of the house and immediate landscape. Improving woodland and public spaces and updating interpretation to create better access for local users and visitors from further afield. 2. Develop and agree a plan for use of the house. 3. Develop and agree plan for collections which are from various properties across Miss Sanderson’s estate, eclectic in nature and currently stored across multiple sites on both Shetland and the mainland. The overarching interpretive Big Idea of: Halligarth’s citizen scientists – past, present and future will provide the narrative to reengaging both community and public Defined as the practice of public participation and collaboration in scientific research to increase scientific knowledge, citizen science is at the core of Halligarth’s significance: members of the Edmonston and Saxby families were not trained naturalists, but they made original contributions to scientific research through practicing citizen science, highlighting its value, and demonstrating how people of all ages and backgrounds can learn skills to observe and record the natural world. Taking this as a focus for interpretation intertwines several strands of significance: it is a conduit through which people can engage with the heritage of Unst & Yell and the story of Halligarth’s former owners; and, by researching, monitoring and recording themselves, through their contributions visitors become important partners in supporting its protection.