An idyllic Scottish island is looking to hire a warden to safeguard its famous sheep

The island of North Ronaldsay in Scotland is looking to hire what it calls a “sheep dyke warden” to keep its famous breed of sheep safe. The sheep eat seaweed and are considered to be a vital part of the idyllic island’s economy, as North Ronaldsay mutton and wool is exported abroad.

North Ronaldsay is the most northern of the Orkney Islands. It’s an island with a rich natural and built heritage, and an important part of the latter is the 13-mile sheep dyke that surrounds the island ensuring the native sheep remain on the foreshore. Storms and high tides have destroyed much of the dyke and there is an urgent need to rebuild the wall to prevent the sheep from being vulnerable to copper poisoning and polluting their gene-pool through cross-breeding.

The successful candidate will be responsible for carrying out a programme of rebuilding and repairs to the dyke and the temporary fencing currently in place. He or she will have a good level of physical fitness and communication skills, and experience of dry stone dyking and project management is desirable. The role will require close liaison with sheep owners and the ‘Sheep Court’ who are responsible for looking after the communally-managed flock. The candidate will work 35 hours per week at an annual salary of £21,840 ($27,540).

Other duties include coordinating volunteer tourism to repair the dyke and assisting with sheep management activities. The successful candidate will be expected to guide tourists and actively promote volunteering activity, while maintaining constructive working relationships with land and sheep owners and local organisations.

The closing date for applications is 8 August, and further information about the vacancy and island life can be found on the North Ronaldsay Trust website here.