Our Event Charter
Sustainability in public events
Events – whether large or small – are a great way to showcase your passions, be they food, adventure, music or walking (just as examples!). They also help build social connections and boost our local economy.
However, do you think about the environment when organising your event by not using one-way plastics, for example? Do you care about the history and culture of the land around you?
We think that the great majority will answer ‘YES’ to the questions above, and that’s why we have created southwest Scotland’s first Sustainable Event Charter – to help organisers share and promote their innovations and hard work.
Our charter invites you to tell us how you are organising your festival, fete, exhibition or show to have the lowest possible environmental impact, and how you are using your event to raise awareness of our UNESCO Biosphere designation.
The Biosphere team are available to advise on ‘Thinking Global, Acting Local’, and we can support you in making your event even more sustainable. Signing up to our charter allows you to use the event logo above, and you will receive a certificate to display at your venue and use digitally on your social media platforms.
Want to find out more? Get in touch via the form below or by email to info@gsabiosphere.org.uk.
Read more about events that have signed up to our charter
Wigtown Book Festival 2024
Wigtown Book Festival (WBF) grew out of the community-initiated project that led to Wigtown becoming Scotland’s national book town. It attracts thousands of visitors each year. WBF’s programme offers high-quality literary events – including dedicated children’s and young people’s programmes – as well as music, visual arts and theatre. In doing so, it offers a space to showcase and celebrate Dumfries & Galloway’s distinctive culture and heritage.
VIEWRaiders Gravel Festival 2024
Raiders Gravel is a truly Scottish gravel adventure ride, held over four days in the heart of the Galloway Forest Park in South-West Scotland.
Over three stunning routes riders will explore the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, witnessing its stunning beauty and wildlife.
VIEWNewton Stewart Walking Festival 2024
Often described as Scotland’s best kept secret, Galloway is a wonderfully unspoilt landscape with an endless variety of routes for walkers to enjoy.
The walking festival offers around 30 routes over 7 days, with transport and guides included, as well as a programme of evening social events.
VIEWMaidens Ocean Festival 2024
World Ocean Day rallies the world for ocean and climate action on 8 June and throughout the year, working in partnership with youth leaders, zoos, aquariums, museums, and other youth-focused organizations, as well as a huge range of diverse organizations and businesses from all sectors in a growing global network. Together, the aim is to engage the public, inform policymakers, and unite the world to protect and restore our shared ocean and create a stable climate.
Maidens Ocean Festival attracts all ages & walks of life from the community of North Carrick, South Ayrshire, inspiring and educating on the beauty and value of oceans and waterways, and giving visitors practical, achievable ideas to reduce their impact on the planet.
VIEWThe Green Fayre 2024
The GSAB Partnership’s flagship event launched in 2022, aiming to promote sustainability and spotlight local projects in conservation and climate action. The Green Fayre also acts as a showcase of volunteer opportunities. Among the attractions this year will be seed, plant, produce and clothes swaps, nature art activities, and a pop-up café.
VIEWSpring Fling 2024
Spring Fling is a vibrant visual art and craft open studios event covering the length and breadth of Dumfries and Galloway in South West Scotland; it is highly regarded as one of the UK’s most successful contemporary visual art and craft events.
ViewGlencairn Midsummer Gathering 2024
The Glencairn Midsummer Gathering is organised by The Friends of the John Corrie Wildlife Garden. It has been developed to foster community spirit, educate the community about the local environment and encourage them to become active in its protection. The Friends will work together to sustain the benefits of the weekend across the community for the long term.
The festival offers land and nature-based activities in Moniaive and Wallaceton including walks led by local experts, bushcraft activities for children, and land skills activities for adults.
ViewBallads at Ballantrae 2023
Ballads at Ballantrae is a day-long celebration of traditional song from SW Scotland comprising a book talk, a children’s event, a sing-around and an evening concert featuring some of the principal exponents of traditional song from Galloway & Carrick. The event will be held in partnership between Girvan Traditional Folk Festival, Ballantrae History Group and Book Week Scotland and is part of an ongoing endeavour to showcase the traditional cultural heritage of Carrick and SW Scotland.
ViewStrandline – Winter Light Festival 2023
In 2023 we are growing our celebration out to nearby villages, fostering a feeling of community togetherness and bringing light to the darkness. Each individual celebration will culminate in STRANDLINE on Hogmanay (31st December) in Girvan.
This year we will be paying homage to Keith Albarn’s Fifth Dimension – A participatory multi- media arts installation which became a major attraction on Girvan’s seafront during the 1970s.
VIEWYour Event
If you plan an event and would like to let your visitors know that you are thinking about your impact on the environment and community, get in touch with us.
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