By Bernie Bell

Covid restrictions have meant that many folk have been working at home since last March.  Colleges and Universities have been successfully running their courses, with students participating in lectures and doing their course work, through the wonder that is  the Internet.

The Archaeology Dept. at The University of the Highlands & Islands is no exception, and though the digs – including the world renowned dig at the Ness of Brodgar https://www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/trust/  – have not taken place this year, the work continues in terms of assessing progress so far, conserving the finds, and a hundred and one other things which need attending to.

Director of the dig at the Ness, Nick Card, not only has an ‘eye’ for archaeology, he also sees life through a lenses, to very good effect.

Nick in his spare time (when not writing, doing grant applications, fund raising, doing post excavation analysis, and preparing hopefully for a return to excavation in 2021 etc) has roamed around the Brodgar area, camera in hand, and has taken some seriously exceptional photos.

I had seen some of these on the Orkney Wildlife Facebook page https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/133013273445588/  and thought to myself – that man has too many talents – it’s just not fair!

I’d also thought that some of these images would make good cards, or even, big, framed prints.  If you’ve had a scroll through the Orkney Wildlife Facebook page, you’ll probably agree.  So, I was very pleased to see on the Ness of Brodgar Trust website, that two sets of greeting cards are now available https://www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/wednesday-wildlife-wrens-and-swans/, made from images taken by Nick, and also by Jim Richardson,  of the National Geographic, who also put together this piece about the Ness…. https://www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/photographic-mastery-jim-richardson-views-from-around-the-ness/

….and well-known Orcadian wildlife film-makes/photographer, Raymond Besant, https://www.facebook.com/raymondbesant/.

We ordered a pack of each, received them promptly, and are very pleased with them.  I was particularly pleased to see an otter among the wildlife pics….

….as I have a soft spot for otters.

And…swans…..Stenness and Harray lochs are known for their swans, more of which are now arriving for the winter months.

I’ve placed the Ness at the centre of the set of landscape pics……

…because the money raised from the sale of these cards, is much needed to go towards funding the dig for next year.  The lack of visitors this year means that the Ness, and The Cairns, and the Swandro dig, have been hard hit for income.

So, folks, if you like what you see, and you’d like to order some packs of cards, please do, and help to kept the dig going.

I’m hoping that maybe these, and other talented photographers, will catch some winter scenes and wildlife, and produce some cards for next Christmas?  A bit late for this year – but – you never know?