Thurso Celebrates Oksana’s Eco Work after Three-Year Initiative

Thurso’s British Legion had an eco event. Oksana Iatsiuta said goodbye; she worked with Highland Community Waste Partnership. Her project lasted three years.

The Partnership had a leaving party named ‘Say Bye to Waste,’ a sustainability fair where special guests gathered to celebrate Oksana’s work, which was under Thurso Community Development Trust.

Oksana said it felt very busy, and many folks showed interest in the fashion swap which they ran for many months. This was the last swap for this project. Furthermore, the sustainability fair had great partners working towards the same community cause.

The event highlighted the importance of secondhand clothes, given that so many discarded materials fill UK waste. Concurrently, a new TCDT development manager position opened.

Oksana, particularly interested in local wool, helped save waste sheep wool, sparking interest in cottage wool through Cycle of Wool events.

Oksana hopes the community takes over so that Cycle of Wool work will continue, recognizing that sheep fleece has huge potential. The potential uses include crafting and home improvements, pointing out that no other material ticks all the boxes that wool does.

She noted that farmers find throwing wool away is cheaper, which is heartbreaking, but they want to change this. This work may build to bigger projects and attract more project funding. Wool needs to move to local hands.

Secondhand clothing is eco-friendly because textiles are Scotland’s “wasteful” products, causing 32% of the waste’s carbon footprint.

The event reminded people about the consequences of losing skills. She explains that losing crafts means losing much more. Helen Allan, who chairs TCDT and works with the Climate Hub, explains additionally that the event celebrated the ending of Oksana’s project, which trialed things across the Highlands.

Partners worked with Oksana over the years, and she showed her sheep fleece work, showing what can be done locally.

The hall had wool crafts and highlighted activities like beach cleaning, clothing swaps, and foraging. Many local groups joined in with HCWP.

Oksana called it a “sustainability ashram”, commenting that the fair had HCWP collaborators, community groups, and climate projects attending, and TCDT projects were also there with instructors running workshops.

Fashion swaps are very popular, stated Oksana, describing how people in Caithness love zero waste events. Secondhand clothes filled the hall.

In the evening, Lyth Arts Centre held an event where Kate Young sang songs, and traditional wool crafts were included.