HMS Tern

29/08/2026

Great news.....Funding from the Orkney Health Board Endowment Funds has been awarded to support a new analogue photography, heritage, science and wellbeing project at HMS Tern in Birsay.

The project aims to support mental wellbeing by giving participants time to slow down, focus, build confidence and connect with others.

Led by the Birsay Heritage Trust, the project will use vintage film cameras, darkroom processes, and practical photography sessions to help young people and community groups explore Orkney’s wartime history in a creative, hands-on way.

Check our this link for more information........



https://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/the-orkney-health-board-endowment-funds-supports-hms-tern-analogue-photography-heritage-science-and-wellbeing-project/

29/08/2026

Thank you for the mention Liam Kerr MSP....glad you enjoyed your roadtrip and HMS Tern.

23/08/2026

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Helen Cromarty from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to our site. Helen’s visit was part of the vital ‘Species on the Edge’ project, which aims to engage local communities in the conservation of our unique wildlife.

During her time with us, she brought seeds and advised the volunteers on where to plant an array of wildflowers, an important initiative aligned with our comprehensive conservation plan for the site.

Check out our blog for the full story.

In addition to conserving artefacts and buildings, the volunteers at HMS Tern are committed to creating and preserving wild habitats on the site for the unique flora and fauna that make Orkney so special. Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Helen Cromarty from the Royal Society for the Prote...

21/08/2026

Stand by your beds! New event at HMS Tern. Audiovisual jamming in the air raid shelter - Sunday 6th September 2026, 12.00 - 15.00. Come along and enjoy. See poster for details.

13/08/2026

Always pleased to welcome new visitors to HMS Tern...Our new batch of chicks are really making themselves at home in the air raid shelter.😄

08/08/2026

HMS Tern Volunteers enjoying themselves at the Dounby Show last week. Thanks to everyone who turned up and had a chat.

22/07/2026

Unfortunately, we have had to cancel all three events planned for this summer. So that's July 26th exhibition 'Life on the Home Front', August 16th '1940's Day' and September 13th '1940's Training Day'. Also, the site will not be open on Fridays. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

17/07/2026

As we continue our investigation of exhibits at HMS Tern, today, we will focus on aircraft navigation and the well-worn aircraft compass displayed at the site.

Accurate navigation has always been crucial for pilots, serving as a fundamental aspect of their training programmes. During World War II, the significance of precise navigation became even more apparent, as navigational errors became a leading cause of accidents and aircraft losses, both during training exercises and in active combat missions.

The incredible photograph of a Grumman Avenger torpedo bomber flying wheels up at zero feet was taken at our sister station, HMS Sparrowhawk, at Hatston, Orkney. For those of you who don't know Orkney, this site is now an industrial estate, although there are remains of the airfield if you know where to look.

See our blog for more.........

https://hmstern.blog/2026/07/17/precision-in-the-skies-the-crucial-role-of-navigation-for-wwii-pilots-and-its-impact-on-aerial-operations/

Photograph: Wiki Commons IWM.