Once the very staple of heat on the islands, in Stanley, there are now few open peat fires.
Peat is being dug up to the east but not for the garden centre or the hearth. Cutting out the peat and the underlying clay reveals a firm surface for buildings that will serve the new oil industry. This peat is destined for Cape Pembroke and landscaping. It is gardening on a massive scale, not the humble spade, but the bulldozer.
Green plastic oil tanks squat in the gardens and the gentle peat smoke drifting down the streets is a rare olfactory delight. The oil drums cooking the household rubbish in the street have gone here, but are still in use in Camp. The wheelie bin now reigns supreme and the rubbish dump grows.
I’ve added a picture taken in 1996 of an oil drum for nostalgia – mind you, the smell from these was quite vile.
