Big news for Biosphere Communities as Kirkcolm becomes our first designated location in the Rhins of Galloway. Residents have been working with the Biosphere's Community & Education team, taking part in a Sense of Place workshop and creating a destination page for gsabiosphere.org.uk. In case you missed Kirkcolm's social media takeover day, the community shared some wonderful photos of the village in years gone by - below shows Main Street in 1938. Find out more about Kirkcolm and our other Biosphere Communities via the blue button.
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We've extended the deadline for applications for the South Ayrshire Small Scale Tree Planting Grant which is now open until 15th March. A partnership initiative with South Ayrshire Council, the grant supports planting of native trees on publicly accessible land - this includes parkland, field boundaries, community green space, and more. For further info click the blue button below or drop a line to our Nature Recovery Officer via antoine@gsabiosphere.org.uk. By way of inspiration: oaks ancient and new at Wood of Keyr in Nithsdale.
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Our team had a partnership and development day at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum this month. Such a warm welcome from the museum team with great conversation about our shared goals in education, sustainable tourism, and nature-friendly management of land and estates. Here we are listening to Chris from the National Trust for Scotland, with Tam O'Shanter in full flight behind! Alloway, where the Burns family farmed for many years, became part of our UNESCO region in 2023, and the museum is an amazing day out for all ages with wonderful outdoor space to explore.
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Our Creatives & Sustainability Gathering at Thornhill is taking place on 5th March at Cample Line. This is a rescheduled date and spaces are still available, free to book with light refreshments included. Anyone involved in creative business is warmly invited to join the Biosphere team and our partners Upland, the arts development organisation for D&G. We'll be talking enterprise and sustainable practice, sharing challenges, goals and ideas. Book on Eventbrite via the button below.
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We're supporting colleagues at NatureScot in their national callout to farmers and land managers for the Scottish Adder Survey. Adders are under threat from human activity, loss of habitat and declining numbers of prey, and NatureScot is seeking information on where and when adders have, or haven't, been seen. The survey doesn't take long to complete, please take part if you can. (Photo by Iain Leach Photography.)
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Interested in community-led tourism and opportunities where you live? The SCOTO - Scottish Community Tourism National Gathering & Learning Exchange takes place in Dumfries this year on 29th February - 1st March and our team will be there alongside local and national partners in a programme of workshops, discussion, and field visits covering climate action, astrotourism, PR, crowdfunding, and more. Book via the button below. (Photo from SCOTO's Imagining New Futures visit to the Biosphere Community of Glentrool in 2023.)
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We're running a joint marketing campaign with VisitScotland through winter/spring 2024 spreading the word of Galloway and Southern Ayrshire's National Geographic Traveller Cool List accolade. Keep an eye on our Explore page (linked below) which is updated each month with some of the coolest and most unique Biosphere Experiences. January's theme was wellness and going off-grid, this month we're celebrating dark skies. And don't forget: we're always delighted to hear about your favourite places, days out, and discoveries. Share with us on social media using the hashtag #gsabiosphere.
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