21/08/2026
🎙️ Climate Conversations: a new podcast series from Timespan is now live!
What can stories from the past tell us about climate change and the climate emergency?
In 2025, Timespan partnered with Helmsdale Primary School to create a series of six climate podcasts, putting young people at the heart of the conversation. Pupils aged 9–11 interviewed local community members and people working in environmental sustainability, climate planning and resilience across the North Highlands.
Drawing on fascinating objects from Timespan’s museum collection, the pupils explored memories, experiences and insights into a changing climate — from snowy winters and life on the croft to fishing at sea and the changing seasons.
You can now listen to the first two-part episode and discover more by visiting: https://timespan.org.uk/pma/climate-conversations/
🌊 In Episode One, Andy Sutherland (DJ Torrish), Yvonne Grant, Mary Findlay and Crispin Aske share memories of growing up in Helmsdale — from crofting and fishing to snowy winters, changing seasons, local shops, whales in the North Sea and “Scarface”, the harbour seal.
🎧 Listen to Climate Conversations and hear the North Highlands through the eyes and experiences of its communities.
We would like to thank everyone involved in making these podcasts, including Shelly Taylor (Head Teacher, Helmsdale Primary School) and the other teachers; the amazing and brilliant youngsters who led and participated in the interviews; the interviewees who generously gave their time and shared their incredible knowledge and climate insights about the area. We also thank everyone at Timespan who assisted in producing the podcasts and providing training and opportunities for intergenerational learning and practice and Fin Macrae at Dufi-Art for producing the final edits.
Helmsdale, Land of The Helmies
Helmsdale Community Centre
Sutherland Community Partnership
Youth Highland
