New BBC ALBA series serves up a slice of Uist life

From Uist with Love is a new seven-part observational documentary made for BBC ALBA, which follows the stories of some of the people who live and work on the islands of Uist.

From Berneray in the north to Eriskay in the south, the islands that make up the Uists are home to around 5,000 people.

Most people live on the islands of Benbecula, North and South Uist.

The smaller islands of Eriskay, Grimsay and Berneray each have fewer than 200 residents.

Although causeways now connect all the islands, they still retain their individual identity and strong sense of community.

The scenery is spectacular and the islands rich with wildlife, with long sandy beaches and fertile machair land on the west, and lochs, moorland and hills on the east.

Crofting, fishing and tourism underpin the local economy.

The islands also have a long association with the military and a missile testing range on South Uist is an important source of employment in the area.

Some of the characters who will be shown in their day to day life include: Head Gamekeeper at community owned South Uist, Rory McGillivray; young shepherds Archie MacLellan (aged nine) and Ben Shepherd (aged twelve) who have their own thriving flock of sheep; mobile librarian Donald Ewen Morrison; and CalMac ferry man Donald Maclean.

The programmes also feature Radoslaw Biereta who moved from Poland to Uist ten years ago; crofting couple Neil and Morag Macpherson; community fundraiser Mairi Maclean; and the story of the iconic roadside shrines in South Uist.

From individual stories to big community events, the programmes offer an insight into life in the islands that make up the Uists.

From Uist with Love will be broadcast at 8.30pm on Thursday 22 September and each consecutive Thursday for seven weeks.

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