Lamb (island)

Lamb
View from Yellowcraigs
View from Yellowcraigs
Location
Lamb is located in East Lothian
Lamb
Lamb
The island shown within East Lothian
OS grid referenceNT535865
Coordinates56°04′08″N 2°44′53″W / 56.069°N 2.748°W / 56.069; -2.748
Physical geography
Island groupIslands of the Forth
Administration
Council areaEast Lothian
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Demographics
Population0
Lymphad

Lamb, sometimes called Lamb Island or The Lamb, is a small uninhabited island measuring approximately 100 by 50 metres (330 ft × 160 ft), between the islands of Fidra and Craigleith in the Firth of Forth, off the east coast of Scotland.[1] The Lamb is flanked by two "sheep dogs", North and South Dog Islands,[1] which are basically small skerries. Like the other Islands of the Forth off North Berwick, the Lamb is a result of volcanic activity millions of years ago.

Access

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The Lamb can be reached by canoes and small boats from North Berwick, although there are no landing facilities and little to attract visitors when compared to Fidra island or the Bass Rock.

Wildlife

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Following a two-year operation involving 35 visits with canoes and infra-red cameras, a single invasive rat was removed from the island in 2022.[2]

Ownership

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Lamb island was historically part of the Scottish feudal barony of Dirleton. The Lamb, along with North and South Dog Islands, was previously owned by Camilo Agasim-Pereira, Baron of Dirleton and Fulwood.[1]

In 2009 the islands were sold for £30,000[3] to Uri Geller, who states that he believes that it is a hiding place for ancient Egyptian treasure,[4][5][6] In mid-2022 Geller sought to declare Lamb as Republic of Lamb, a micronation with its own national anthem.[7] Geller also became chairman of the North Berwick Amateurs FC, designated as Lamb's national football team.[8]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c "Lamb (The Lamb, Lamb Island)". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Rat removed from Lamb Island owned by 'psychic' Uri Geller". BBC News. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022. Volunteers from the Lothian Sea Kayak Club and the Lothian Seabird Centre made 35 trips out to the island, which is difficult to access using larger boats. The team used motion-triggered cameras and concluded there was likely only one rat present.
  3. ^ "Lamb Island and Islets of North Dog and South Dog, Dirleton". Scotland's Land Information Service. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Uri Geller to hunt for treasure in Forth". BBC News. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Spoon-bender buys Scottish island". BBC News. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Mystical force stirs spoon-bender Geller to splash out on 'pyramid of the Forth'". The Scotsman. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  7. ^ Berg, Raffi (7 August 2022). "The mysteries that gave birth to the world's newest micronation". BBC News. Mr Al Fayed is an ardent supporter of Scottish independence and has offered to be the first president of a sovereign Scotland … former owner of luxury Knightsbridge department store Harrods
  8. ^ Millar, Gregor (30 August 2022). "Uri Geller makes exclusive video for the Courier as he adopts North Berwick team". East Lothian Courier.
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Media related to Lamb (island) at Wikimedia Commons