Our Community
Our school serves the areas of Sweening, Laxo, Lunna, Lunning, Vidlin and Skelberry.
Vidlin Area
Vidlin is a spread out rural area. There are several groups of houses clustered around the head of Vidlin voe. There are also scattered populations, at Lunning, Sweening, Levaneap, Laxo and Lunna. Many people are crofters, mostly part time and there is a substantial fish farming industry. Some people work at the Oil Terminal of Sullom Voe, about 15 miles away and some for Shetland Islands Council. The Cabin, created by Mr Andy Robertson is well woth a visit. Andy has amassed a huge collection of Wartime Memorabilia and other items. Other businesses include Johnson Sea Farms; Antiques and Bric A Brac at Outrabister House, Lunnaness; and Bod Ayre Products Ltd. There is also a local shop and petrol station, Community Hall and boat marina. There are 2 ferry terminals with ferries going to the islands of Whalsay and Out Skerries.
Wildlife
Over the years the children at the school have studied many aspects of the local wildlife. Vidlin is an area well known for its thriving otter population. An otter has been seen crossing the school playground. Seals (selkies) quite regularly visit the inner area of the voe and once, one was seen sunning itself on the beach in front of the school.
The children keep a diary of wildlife they have seen and besides otters (draatsies) they have noted a red throated diver (raingius), cormorants (scarfs), herons (hegries), merganser ducks (herald dyook), tufted ducks, eider ducks (dunters), guillemots (tysties) and oyster catchers (shalders). Every summer arctic terns (tirricks) and black headed gulls nest close by the school and great skuas (bonxies) and arctic skuas (scooty alans) are also regular summer visitors. There are many other species of birds seen here such as, ringed plover (sandiloo), wheatear (stenshakker), curlew (whaap), puffin (tammie norie) and gannet (solan gus) to name a few.
We sometimes see hedgehogs in the garden and a long eared owl was seen by children a few years ago in a nearby small plantation of trees. There are few trees in Shetland but migrating birds seeking shelter will land on any group of trees they can find.
Habitats
The Garden is used for studies of plants, minibeasts, trees, composting and school vegetable patch.
The beach is accessed by steps and is used for looking at the seashore.