Population doubles on island that offers a simple and safe way of life

Published on Tuesday 8 June 2010 22:44

IT IS on the same latitude as the Central Siberian plateau, enjoys its regular share of strong winds and has scarce local amenities.

• Jade, left, and Imogen St-John Smythe, who moved with their parents to start a new life Fetlar in October. Picture: Shetland Times

But over the last year, the remote Shetland island of Fetlar can boast one of the biggest population rises anywhere in the UK – 45 per cent.

Fetlar was once home to more than 800 people, but by 2008 numbers had plummeted to 48.

Now, a programme to boost numbers has proved a massive success, with the population rising to 70. It is hoped it can now reach 100 by 2019.

The turnaround is remarkable for an island where summer temperatures reach only around 17C, lying on the same latitude as Seward in Alaska, the southern tip of Greenland and the Central Siberian plateau. In the winter the sun disappears about 2pm.

Amenities are also scarce, with a shop, community centre, campsite and primary school with just one pupil at present. The nearest petrol pumps are on the neighbouring islands of Yell or Unst.

But the island, known as the Garden of Shetland because of its fertile soil, has good beaches and is renowned for plants and birds.

Among the incomers in the past year is James St-John Smythe who now has four jobs and is about to take on a fifth.

Since moving from Worcestershire, he and his family have become an important part of a community they had previously never even visited.

James, 43, a former procurement manager, is the island taxi driver, a painter and decorator, relief postman and museum custodian. He is also events manager for a forthcoming music festival.

His wife Sarah, 32, who had worked in a bank and call centre, has a job in the local B&B. Daughter Imogen, four, is in the island nursery and her sister Jade, 13, visits at weekends from secondary school in Lerwick.

They are among the newcomers who have helped swell the island population by 45 per cent in the first 18 months of a regeneration project.

James, an ex-soldier who lived in the Falklands for a year, said: "We fancied a change of pace and lifestyle and we have absolutely no regrets. We love it. There is a great community spirit."

He said the weather and apparent lack of facilities are not a concern.

"We just get on with it. You can't nip to the local Tesco but we have a good convenience store. There are certain things you have to accept. In some ways it's like going back to old-fashioned times. We leave our doors open and the kids can run around without worrying about traffic, drugs or drink-driving."

Brydon Thomason, his wife Vaila and their seven-month-old son Casey moved there from the Shetland mainland. Brydon, originally from Fetlar, runs Shetland Nature Tours, while his wife, from Unst, hopes to re-start a massage business.

She said: "There are a lot more younger children, so it's looking better all the time. Things aren't so doom and gloom."

Robert Thomson, development officer with Fetlar Development Ltd, said the population growth was "beyond our wildest dreams".

"We've not tried that hard, but people are still appearing."

It is now hoped to build new accommodation with council housing at capacity.