The stunning Scottish isle 'gifted' 70 years ago that is a nirvana for birdwatchers and jumper lovers

Fair Isle, which sits between Orkney and Shetland, was handed to the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) by revered Edinburgh ornithologist George Waterston on September 3, 1954.

Waterston bought Fair Isle after returning to Scotland following his spell as a Prisoner of War in Germany, with the island the first landfall he saw on his journey home.

He had been a visitor to Fair Isle many times before to witness the array of birdlife that landed on the island on migratory routes and, following its purchase, set up the famouse Fair Isle Bird Observatory. During the 1950s, he championed the island’s unique Fair Isle jumpers and knitting style and helped turn the knitwear into objects of desire around the world.

READ MORE: Sign up to our heritage newsletter and get all the best stories rooted in Scotland’s past

NTS said it was celebrating the anniversary with a raft of projects which continue Waterston’s legacy, which was one of its prime aims following the purchase of the island.

Islander Eileen Thomson, who works for the Fair Isle Development Company, said islanders were too busy crofting and getting animals ready for market to throw a party for themselves.

She added Fair Isle had long benefited from NTS’s ownership.

Ms Thomson said: “We have a really good relationship with NTS. There is a bit of symbiosis there. NTS always says Fair Isle is the jewel in its crown but they are a very good landlord. You see a lot of island communities which have struggled because of private ownership but NTS has always been very respectful of us. Being owned by NTS protects us in many ways.”

READ MORE: First sighting of ‘American’ bird on Scottish island leaves birdwatchers astounded

The island, which is three miles long and one and a half miles wide, has a population of around 50. Islanders, with NTS support, have led a number of milestone developments on the island in recent years, not least the installation of a 24-hour electricity supply for the first time.

Previously, the combination of wind turbines and a diesel generator meant “lights out” on the island between 11.30pm and 7.30am.

NTS said it was now expanding research activity being carried to better understand Fair Isle’s natural heritage.

The health of the island’s marine environment is a key focus of the work which is supported by University of the Highlands and Islands UHI) Shetland. It will supports the Fair Isle Demonstration and Research Marine Protected Area (DR MPA), the first ever community-led project of its kind in the country.

Fieldwork has involved tagging of European shag seabirds with GPS readings from 10 birds helping to determine feed locations and depth of feeding dives.

It builds on research carried out earlier this summer summer using a drifting baited remote underwater video, designed by UHI Shetland, to record pelagic fish species.

A separate project to document numbers of skate has also been carried out using new kit which allowed researchers to negotiate the challenging tides and seabed topography more easily.

The Fair Isle Marine Research Organisation has also been working to detect the echolocations of whales, dolphins and porpoises in surrounding waters.

This article has been updated to correct the spelling of George Waterston