Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary
Description: Redevelopment of Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary
Client: Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary
[Registered charity number SC020979]
Services: Planning Application | Listed Building Consent | Building Warrant | Structural Engineering Design | Technical Specification | Seawater Pumping Design | Marine Licence
Contractor: Shetland Construction & Development Ltd.
Time Span: 2019 - 2021
Photos: CASE Shetland, Odd Poppy Photography
The Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary has been helping to save local wildlife since 1987, at first this was limited to seals but several years later they got an otter cub to look after. In the subsequent years a steady stream of lost, abandoned or injured animals came through their doors. In January 1993, the Braer oil spill struck, which saw 37 seals and 11 otters being delivered to the sanctuary in desperate need of care. Jan Bevington, the owner and founder, received an environmental award from Shetland Amenity Trust for her efforts during this disaster.
Over the next three decades the sanctuary grew and became an integral part of the Shetland wildlife network, all whilst operating on a shoestring budget consisting mainly of generous donations. Jan and her husband Pete worked hard and showed tremendous dedication to the cause, supported by a network of trusty volunteers, but they were limited by the aging facilities. They were crying out for investment, to safeguard the future of the sanctuary.
The big break came in 2017, when the Sullom Voe Association agreed to fund 75% of a £450,000 redevelopment of the sanctuary facilities, including a sea water pump and a visitor centre. The project was started with technical support directly from the Shetland Islands Council, but soon after CASE Shetland joined the Project Team as professional engineering and design consultants. We worked closely with Jan and Pete, and a range of stakeholders to navigate through the various permissions which were required, including Planning Permission, Listed Building Consent and a Building Warrant.
The redevelopment included new seal and otter enclosures, an otter unit and viewing room, extensive renovations to the seal unit, a new visitor centre and a dedicated salt water pumping system which provides resident seals with a constant supply of water. It was a complex project, with the water intake system in particular needing a range of consents from the Local Authority, Marine Scotland and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency [SEPA]. We also had to work with local marine engineering contractors, to design and specify a system which was robust and fit-for-purpose.
Overall, whist being challenging and at times frustrating [mainly due to the lengthy approval processes] it was a hugely rewarding project to be part of. Throughout we could see Jan and Pete’s love of animals and their desire to improve the facility. CASE Shetland were there to provide the technical input required to take the project from a dream through to a reality, and we are so proud of how it turned out.
There were many companies involved with the work, but special mention must go out to Shetland Construction and Developments Ltd who were the lead contractor on the project. They followed the plans through on site to deliver a facility which the Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary had longed for, and which is now better placed than ever to care for the seals and otters which come through its doors.
