Fetlar facts for kids
| Gaelic name | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Norse name | Fætilar |
| Meaning of name | Unclear |
| OS grid reference | HU620919 |
| Coordinates | 60°37′N 0°52′W / 60.62°N 0.87°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Shetland |
| Area | 4,078 hectares (15.75 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 25 |
| Highest elevation | Vord Hill 158 metres (518 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Shetland Islands |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 61 |
| Population density | 1.5 people/km2 |
| Largest settlement | Houbie |
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Fetlar is a beautiful island in the North Isles of Shetland, Scotland. In 2011, about 61 people lived there. The main village is Houbie, located on the south coast. Here you can find the Fetlar Interpretive Centre, which tells the island's story. Fetlar is the fourth-biggest island in Shetland. It covers an area of over 4,000 hectares (15 sq mi).
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Island History and Landmarks
Fetlar has a long and interesting history. You can find many unique features and stories here.
The Funzie Girt Wall
One of the most unusual things on Fetlar is a huge wall. It stretches right across the island. This wall is called the Funzie Girt or Finnigirt Dyke. People think it was built a very long time ago, during the Mesolithic period. This was the Middle Stone Age. The wall divided the island so clearly that the old Norse people spoke of Fetlar as two separate parts: East Isle and West Isle.
Brough Lodge and Island Events
Another interesting place on Fetlar is the Brough Lodge. This old Gothic-style building was built around 1820 by Arthur Nicolson. It is currently being restored by the Brough Lodge Trust.
Every year, usually in July, the Fetlar sheepdog trials take place. Here, skilled dogs show how they can herd sheep. The Fetlar Foy was once a very popular event. It happened in summer at the Links at Tresta. People would gather for music, food, and drinks.
Famous People from Fetlar
Fetlar is the home island of Sir William Watson Cheyne. He was a very important doctor and surgeon. Sir William worked closely with Lord Lister. Together, they were pioneers in using antiseptics. Antiseptics are special liquids that kill germs and prevent infections.
Sir William was a professor of surgery at King's College London. He also led the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He wrote many books about medical treatments. In 1908, he was made a baronet for his great work in medicine. Later, he became a Member of Parliament (MP). He represented Scottish universities from 1917 to 1922. From 1919 to 1930, he was the Lord Lieutenant of the Shetland Islands. Sir William Cheyne passed away on Fetlar on April 19, 1932.
An Anglican religious group for women, the Society of Our Lady of the Isles, also lived on Fetlar. They moved to Unst in 2015.
Fishing and Shipwrecks
Fishing has always been a big part of life on Fetlar. The island has a long history of people fishing in its waters.
In August 2012, something amazing happened. The oldest message in a bottle ever found was discovered near Fetlar. It had been released in June 1914! Andrew Leaper, a fishing boat skipper, found it. His boat, the Copious, had also found a record-breaking bottle in 2006. The bottle and Mr. Leaper's World Record certificate are now at the Fetlar Interpretive Centre.
Fetlar's waters also hold many shipwrecks. These include ships from different countries. You can find wrecks of Danish, Dutch, German, English, and Soviet vessels.
Island Geography and Geology
Fetlar has a very interesting and complex geology. This means the rocks and land are made up of many different types.
Rock Formations
In the west of the island, you can find rocks like gneiss. There are also metamorphosed gabbro and phyllite. These are rocks that have changed over time due to heat and pressure. You can also find kaolin, antigorite, and steatite here. In the past, talc was even mined on Fetlar.
The eastern part of the island is special. It is part of the Shetland ophiolite complex. This is a rare piece of the Earth's oceanic crust and the deep rock beneath it. It has been pushed up and can be seen above sea level.
Surrounding Islands
Fetlar is surrounded by several smaller islands. Many of these are in the narrow channel between Fetlar and Unst. To the north, you can see Daaey, Haaf Gruney, Sound Gruney, Urie Lingey, and Uyea. To the west, there are Hascosay and Linga.
Fetlar is separated from Hascosay and Yell by Colgrave Sound. Further south, you can find the Out Skerries and Whalsay.
The Name of Fetlar
The names of three islands in Shetland are a bit of a mystery. These are Fetlar, Unst, and Yell. No one is sure where their names came from. They might be older than the Celtic languages.
The earliest records of these names have Norse meanings. For example, Fetlar means "shoulder-straps" in Norse. But these meanings don't seem to fit the islands very well. So, the names were probably changed from an older language. This older language might have been spoken by the Picts. However, there is no clear proof of this.
Some people think Fetlar's name might mean "prosperous land." Others suggest it means "two islands strapped together" because of the Funzie Girt wall. In 1490, the island was called "Fötilør." In 1654, it was known as "Pheodor Oy."
Nature and Wildlife Conservation
Fetlar is famous for its amazing wildlife. It has many different kinds of plants and animals. This is thanks to its varied geology.
Plant Life
Over 200 different types of wild flowers have been found on Fetlar. Because of its very rich soil, the island is often called "The Garden of Shetland."
Bird Species and Breeding Sites
The northern part of Fetlar is a special RSPB reserve. This is a protected area for birds. Many important bird species breed here. These include Arctic skuas and Eurasian whimbrels. The Lamb Hoga peninsula and nearby Haaf Gruney have some of the largest groups of storm petrels.
In total, about 20,000 seabirds live on Fetlar. This includes large numbers of Arctic skua, Northern fulmar, great skua, and Arctic tern. The red-necked phalarope is especially important here. The Loch of Funzie is the most important place in the United Kingdom for these birds to breed. For a while in the 1990s, it was the only place they bred in the country.
In the 1960s and early 1970s, a pair of snowy owls famously bred on Fetlar. They stayed until the 1980s but are no longer permanent residents. However, a snowy owl was seen on Fetlar in October 2018!
Protected Areas
Fetlar and the seas around it have several important conservation areas. These help protect the island's unique nature:
- The North Fetlar Special Area of Conservation (SAC) covers 1,585 hectares (3,920 acres) of the island. It protects the dry heaths and rich fens found there.
- The Fetlar Special Protection Area (SPA) covers 16,965 hectares (169.65 km2) of the island and the nearby seas. This area is very important for many types of seabirds.
- The Fetlar to Haroldswick Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area protects 21,600 hectares (216 km2) of the sea. This area completely surrounds Fetlar. It also extends to cover all the sea between Fetlar and the nearby islands of Yell and Unst.
Island Infrastructure
Fetlar is connected to other islands by ferries. Ferries sail daily from Hamars Ness on Fetlar. They go to Gutcher on Yell and to Belmont on Unst. A new dock and berthing area were built at Hamars Ness. It officially opened on December 1, 2012.
There is also a communications tower on Fetlar. It helps with phone and internet signals. Fetlar is currently being checked for superfast broadband internet.
Fetlar School
In 2009, there were 3 students in primary school and 1 student in nursery at Fetlar primary school. The school is located at Baela, near Houbie.
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See also
In Spanish: Fetlar para niños
