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Tingwall is a fertile valley and settlement in central Mainland Shetland, a few miles north-west of Lerwick in the sheltered Tingwall valley that carries Loch Tingwall — a notable trout loch. The area takes its name from the Lawting, the Norse open-air parliament or Thing that was held on a small island connected by a causeway in the loch, where the laws of Norse Shetland were pronounced; the Lawting Holm is still visible. The Tingwall valley is one of the most productive agricultural areas of Shetland, with better soil than much of the island and a sheltered position from the Atlantic weather; the valley supports improved pasture, arable ground, and croft land that provides good forage for bees. Tingwall Airport, Shetland's main inter-island airfield, is located in the valley.

Heather is the dominant forage plant of Shetland, covering the vast majority of the island landscape with bell heather and ling running from mid-July through September; the heather honey of Shetland has a distinctive strong character from the pure moorland sources. White clover on improved croft land in the valley bottoms and the more fertile western Mainland parishes provides the main June-to-July summer flow. Gorse — whin — is exceptionally abundant throughout Shetland from March into June, flowering earlier than most mainland sites thanks to the Gulf Stream influence, and providing critical early pollen and nectar for spring colony build-up. Sycamore in the sheltered town gardens and policies of Lerwick and Scalloway gives a productive May flow where trees are established. Bramble on disturbed ground and croft edges from July to August. Dandelion on roadsides and improved grassland in April and May provides early pollen. Ivy on older stone buildings in the more sheltered settings around Lerwick closes the season into October on mild years.