Dates
Thursday 2nd October 2025
Details
The virtual Uradale Farm tour will begin at 2pm.
The online Shaetlan language talk will begin at 4pm.
All times are UK times.
Overview
For those of you who are not able to come in person, we at Uradale invite you to join us virtually. These tours are completely unscripted and unplugged, so it will be as close to the in person tour as is possible.
Join us either only for the first half of the tour (option 1) or only for the second half (option 2) or for the combined tour (option 3).
Option 1 - Virtual Uradale Farm Tour
An outside talk with a demonstration of native Shetland sheep and kye (‘cattle’). Uradale is an Organic farm that focusses purely on the native breeds. All the livestock remain on the farm until fully grown, then their meats are sold to customers. The sheep are shorn once a year, and their wool is spun to yarn.
The farm pursues a policy of sustainability with regenerative practices. Light grazing of low numbers of both sheep and kye encourages carbon sequestration over a large area of peatland, the most efficient terrestrial carbon store on the planet. These goals are only attainable through the use of the two indigenous breeds of livestock. Their adaptation to life in this challenging environment at the same latitude as southern Greenland makes them exceptional, and offers sustainable solutions in a climate emergency.
The kye nearly went extinct in 1981, when only 27 were left, as a result of modern agricultural markets. The sheep, now world famous for their wool, are also now in declining numbers, also victims of agricultural markets. However, you will hear about the very special features of both animals, long lost to modern food products, and why they must be protected in their historic form, both for the sake of our nourishment and for the sake of environmental health. The farm has its wool crop spun annually, and over the years has sought to offer yarns with distinction and a unique character.
All will be revealed at Uradale for those with curiosity and discerning tastes.
Option 2 - Online Shaetlan Language Talk
Shetland sits at a maritime service station, a crossroads for international trade. This has led to a unique language, which pre-dates English on the islands, but which is now endangered. Our language has survived despite colonial attempts to eradicate it. For this visit our Professor of Linguistics will explain its back story by taking you through the influences of traders, Vikings and the oppressions of modern times. You will learn the unique features of Shetland’s language, and how it has now become a textbook example of an arch typical Mixed Language, a well-known type of language in the world which has mixed ancestry. Shaetlan is now a case study for the typical Mixed Language which has its grammar from the original settlers (Norn) and its words from the new, more powerful and economically dominant settlers (Scots). You will also learn how the traditional skills associated with the wool world has helped preserve this marginalised language.
This fascinating tale reveals much about the folk of the islands, determined to survive and retain their unique identity and heritage, despite extreme external pressures.
Price
Option 1 - Virtual Uradale Farm Tour = £15.00
Option 2 - Online Shaetlan Language Talk = £15.00
Option 3 - both options 1 and 2 combined = £25
Places available
50
Additional Information
The links to the talks will be emailed to you nearer the time.
Tickets are non refundable.
We realise that Uradale Unplugged falls on Yom Kippur 2025. For those of you who observe Yom Kippur: we will be recording this and making it available at a later date to ticket holders.