There has been an incredible response to a collaborative project involving school students from across 24 island locations to research a species of Plant or Animal which is native to their island, and to create a poster based on their research.

The Islands involved are all those taking part in the Island Games 2025, which this year are hosted in Orkney. The posters are being displayed during The Orkney Nature Festival, from Monday 12th May to Sunday 18th May inclusive.

Henry Memmott, Youth Events Co-ordinator, Orkney Nature Festival, explained:

“The response to the project has been incredible, and it is wonderful to see the range in contributions from a variety of locations around the world. From our close neighbours in Shetland, to our distant friends in the Falkland Islands, the diversity of nature has been well and truly represented. The posters are individually beautiful, and collectively staggering – it is a joy to look through them, and learn something new.”

All posters have been displayed in a specially-created online gallery, grouped by their location. There has been an large response to the project, with over 300 students taking part from 11 Island Locations – and more still to be received.  

Click on this link to view the posters: Orkney Nature Festival 2025 Collaborative Project

The Project was released on the first day of the Orkney Nature Festival 12th May 2025, but will continue beyond the week of the festival. It is hoped that some of these posters will be able to be displayed in Orkney during the upcoming Island Games.