Imminent harm,
Sound the alarm!
[Verse 1]
In Scotland’s misty embrace, St. Kilda stands tall,
Sea birds and creatures, answer nature’s call.
But primate change lurks, like a shadow in the night,
Threatening this haven, with all of its might.
[Chorus]
Increasing temperatures, storms on the rise,
Changing currents, painting ominous skies.
The National Trust, with worries they bear,
As St. Kilda’s future hangs in the air.
[Break}
Imminent harm,
Sound the alarm!
[Instrumental, Guitar Solo, Drum Fills]
[Verse 2]
Scholars’ voices echo, a warning to heed,
As warming seas disrupt, the islands’ life feed.
Seabirds in peril, sadly numbers decline,
Facing a fate, once so divine.
[Chorus]
Increasing temperatures, storms on the rise,
Changing currents, painting ominous skies.
The National Trust, with worries they bear,
As St. Kilda’s future hangs in the air.
[Break}
Imminent harm,
Sound the alarm!
[Instrumental, Saxophone Solo, Drum Fills]
[Bridge]
Just like Lyonesse, in Arthurian tale,
St. Kilda’s fate, on a similar trail.
A land once thriving, now lost to the sea,
Will St. Kilda, too, meet the same destiny?
[Verse 3]
In tales of old, Lyonesse did drown,
A kingdom’s demise, in a night’s cruel gown.
Could St. Kilda face, a similar plight,
As climate change roars, with all of its might?
[Chorus]
Increasing temperatures, storms on the rise,
Changing currents, painting ominous skies.
The National Trust, with worries they bear,
As St. Kilda’s future hangs in the air.
[Break}
Imminent harm,
Sound the alarm!
[Outro]
So let us take heed, and act with great care,
To protect St. Kilda, from the fate we share.
For if we ignore, the signs that we see,
St Kilda may vanish, like Lyonesse in the sea.
Tragedy
[End]
A SCIENCE AND HISTORY NOTE
Scientists have pinpointed the most significant climate change threats to one of Scotland’s most delicate environments, St Kilda, located more than 40 miles (64km) west of the Western Isles. This remote archipelago is not only home to thousands of seabirds but also hosts unique sub-species of mouse and wren. A recent study indicates that rising temperatures, alongside more frequent and severe storms, and alterations in ocean currents, pose the greatest risks to the ecosystem of St Kilda.
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS), which oversees St Kilda, has already observed the impact of warmer seas on the islands’ avian food chain. Scientists utilized the Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) to assess climate change threats comprehensively.
Susan Bain, NTS manager for St Kilda, highlighted the study’s warnings about the future challenges facing the trust in managing the archipelago. She emphasized, “Warming sea temperatures are already disrupting the food chain crucial for the hundreds of thousands of seabirds that breed here annually, putting certain species at risk of disappearing from St Kilda permanently.” Bain further expressed concerns that changing currents could exacerbate these impacts, fundamentally altering habitats and consequently affecting the bird populations.
A recent seabird species count in 2023 indicated an overall decline in numbers by 61%. Bain noted that stormier weather could lead to damage to historic properties on Hirta, one of the islands comprising St Kilda, and could also pose logistical challenges for staff, volunteers, and tourists visiting the area.
Historic Similarities
Lyonesse holds a significant place in Arthurian legend, notably featuring in the tragic tale of Tristan and Iseult. It served as the homeland of the heroic Tristan, a distinguished Knight of the Round Table, whose father, King Meliodas, ruled over Lyonesse. In Arthurian lore, Lyonesse is a mythical and “lost” land believed to have once connected Cornwall in western England to the Isles of Scilly in the English Channel.
The name “Lyonesse” first emerged in Thomas Malory’s late 15th-century work, Le Morte Darthur, where it was portrayed as the native land of Tristan. Interestingly, earlier Arthurian legends had associated Tristan with Leonois, likely the region around Saint-Pol-de-Léon in Brittany. Malory’s adoption of the name “Lyonesse” is a deviation from the original association.
Legend holds that Lyonesse met a tragic fate by sinking beneath the waves in a single night. Discrepancies exist in stories regarding the date of this catastrophic event, with some narratives pointing to 11 November 1099, while others suggest it occurred a decade earlier. According to one version, the kingdom faced divine retribution for an unspecified heinous crime committed by its people. The ensuing night witnessed a devastating storm culminating in a colossal wave that engulfed Lyonesse.