Monday 6th September 2010
National Trust asks beachcombers to look out for St Kilda mailboat
National Trust for Scotland
People visiting Scotland’s beaches are being urged by the National Trust for Scotland to look out for a tiny wooden mailboat which was launched from St Kilda yesterday [29 August] to mark the 80th anniversary of the evacuation of the islands.
Staff from the conservation charity say the vessel – which is similar to those used by St Kildans in the past to communicate with the outside world - could wash up almost anywhere on the coastlines of Scotland or Scandinavia.
“We suspect the boat is likely to turn up somewhere in the Western Isles,” said Susan Bain, who manages St Kilda for the National Trust for Scotland, “however, it’s not unusual for them to turn up in Orkney or further afield. I launched one recently and it was found in Northern Norway.
The mail boat - which has small sail and has been painted green and red – bears the words: “ST KILDA MAIL PLEASE OPEN”.