“I’m delighted to have won this Award, and I’d like to think that it reflects the importance of Orkney as a global nature destination as I get clients from all over the world.” – Steve Sankey, Orcadian Wildlife
Orkney based wildlife tour operator, Orcadian Wildlife, has won the prestigious Business for Nature Award at RSPB Scotland’s Nature of Scotland Awards 2023.
Orcadian Wildlife is a family wildlife tourism business founded in 2004 when its naturalist owner-operator, Steve Sankey, partnered with local Orkney businesses to build a small eco-tourism business with customer care and sustainability as its twin core attributes.
Based on South Ronaldsay, the business remains very much centered in Orkney, with a focus on Orkney’s wildlife and culture. Seabirds such as puffins and gannets, cetaceans like orcas and porpoises, and raptors such as hen harriers feature in their island-wide itineraries, along with the major archaeological sites. In recent years operations have expanded to include international destiations such as this Winter’s tours to Costa Rica and the Falkland Islands.
Steve Sankey, owner and founder of Orcadian Wildlife said:
“I’m delighted to have won this Award, and I’d like to think that it reflects the importance of Orkney as a global nature destination as I get clients from all over the world.”
“I’m delighted to have won this Award, and I’d like to think that it reflects the importance of Orkney as a global nature destination as I get clients from all over the world.
“I’d particularly like to thank my family, my wife, Sarah, and our son, Sami, for their huge support over the years. Sarah and I founded the business two decades ago, although it just seems like yesterday! Our son Sami has been an assistant tour guide in numerous locations around the world, and I couldn’t have made this journey without them.
“I’ve also enjoyed the company of hundreds of clients over the years, and won so many friends through the enjoyment of Orkney’s precious wildlife. I’m a bit overcome!”
Finalists gathered at the EICC on the 22 November to enjoy a night of celebration, hosted by zoologist, TV presenter and RSPB Ambassador Megan McCubbin, and TV presenter and nature enthusiast JJ Chalmers.
The awards ceremony, now in its 12th year and co-sponsored by NatureScot, celebrated finalists across 10 categories. Winners from nine of the categories were chosen by an esteemed judging panel, made up of Susan Davies, Chief Executive of the Scottish Seabird Centre Seabird, Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive at Nautrescot, Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland and Sara Thiam, Chief Executive of SCDI.
Anne McCall, Director of RSPB Scotland said:
“All our winners this year should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved.
“Another year of the Nature of Scotland Awards has brought a growing group of hardworking, motivated and passionate people into the conservation spotlight, and I’d like to wish them all a huge congratulations.
“The annual awards night is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our successes here in Scotland, but the twelve months in between is where the real magic happens. Scotland’s nature and climate is in a better position because of all your amazing efforts, thank you.”
Professor Colin Galbraith, Chair of awards co-sponsor NatureScot, said:
“Now more than ever, Scotland’s nature needs champions with the ambitious ideas these award winners demonstrate.
“All of the individuals, communities, businesses and organisations nominated have inspired us this year, with their vital work to stop biodiversity loss and help us to move towards a nature-rich, net-zero future. Congratulations everyone.”
The 2023 Awards
| Category | Highly commended | Winner |
| Business for Nature Award | The Alba Explorers Ltd. | Orcadian Wildlife: 20 years of sharing Orkney’s amazing wildlife. |
| Coasts and Waters Award | COAST – community-led marine conservation and restoration. Come Forth for Wildlife & Fife Living Water SMEEF – harnessing private finance for marine recovery | Biosecurity for LIFE |
| Community Initiative award | n/a | 50 Years of the Bailies of Bennachie |
| Conservation Science Award | Coralline crisis: Informing conservation of Scotland’s maerl beds Restoring Scotland’s mountain woodland | Putting Scottish peatlands “on the map” |
| Food and Farming Award | Corncrake Calling – Fenceless grazing for Corncrakes and Crofters Flourishing nature, nourishing people | The Southwest Scotland Regenerative Farming Network |
| Health and Wellbeing Award | Roots to Learning | Whispers from the Woods & Wilds |
| Innovation Award | n/a | Saving the Pine Hoverfly From Extinction |
| Landscape Restoration Award | Peatland ACTION – landscape-scale solutions for biodiversity and climate | Cairngorms Connect |
| Nature and Climate Action Award | Falkirk’s Sustainable Greenspaces | One Million Trees Campaign |
| RSPB Species Champion Award | Dr Róisín Campbell-Palmer | Roy Dennis MBE – A Life Conserving Ospreys |