Wick Voices Interviews Kirsty Rosie

26th December 2024

Wick Voices is the oral history project of the Wick Society, a community organisation in Wick, Caithness, in the north of Scotland.

The project focuses on recording and preserving the voices and stories of local residents to capture the unique heritage, culture, and personal histories of the area.

Listen to the podcast HERE

By documenting personal anecdotes, local knowledge, and historical events, Wick Voices aims to create a valuable archive that reflects the life and times of the community, providing insights into both everyday experiences and significant local events. The recorded interviews are made available online for free.

This initiative not only serves as an important historical record but also cultivated a sense of community identity and pride, bridging generational gaps and enriching the cultural landscape of Wick and Caithness.

So imagine how delighted we were when Wick Voices approached the High Life Highland Countryside Ranger Service to record an interview with our ranger Kirsty Rosie.

Kirsty's interview was recorded at the beautifully located Ranger Base - the Seadrift Centre at Dunnet Bay.

The interview offers an engaging glimpse into her life, career journey, and the remarkable experiences she's gathered while caring for the landscapes and wildlife of East Caithness.

Growing up in Keiss and attending Wick High School, Kirsty was first inspired by her biology teacher, David Oliver, whose classroom overflowed with plants, stick insects, and even a terrapin. His passion for the natural world left a lasting impression, and though she initially trained as a primary school teacher, Kirsty eventually decided to pursue a career that allowed her to fully immerse herself in nature, describing being a ranger as "just more interesting."

From her early seasonal posts to working with the Dunnet Forestry Trust and eventually joining the countryside ranger service, Kirsty's journey is filled with dedication and a profound love for her work. In her Wick Voices interview, Kirsty shares that one of the most rewarding aspects of being a ranger is the variety of the job and the people she meets. She also speaks warmly of the public's increasing involvement in beach clean-ups, showing how community spirit strengthens conservation efforts in the region.

Kirsty also remembers two fellow rangers, Dieter and Marina , who left lasting impacts on her and the wider ranger team, and whose passing has been a sad chapter in the service.

Listeners will be fascinated by Kirsty's wildlife stories, from rescuing young lapwings (shochads) from busy roads to the joy of spotting a rare sea bean on Dunnet beach—a sighting that hints at the effects of climate change as warmer waters bring new species to Caithness shores. As Kirsty says, "Sometimes you don't have to go chasing wildlife; you don't have to stand in the freezing cold in special clothes to see something extraordinary."

Kirsty Rosie's passion for the landscapes and biodiversity of Caithness shines through. So, whether you're local or simply curious about the natural treasures of this region, settle in for a listen and let Kirsty's stories draw you into the wild beauty of Caithness.

Listen to the podcast HERE

For hundreds of podcasts go to
Wick Voices Web Site

For much more from Highland Rangers go to
Naure Unveiled

For more History of Wick go to
Wick Heritage

The Wick Society that runs Wick Heritage Museum has several arms one of which is he famous Johnson collection of photos. Hundreds are available online to view and you can also purchase copies that helps fund the work of this amazing local charity in Wick.
To view the collection go to https://www.johnstoncollection.net/