Greetings to all our friends across the Biosphere and beyond! Summer has arrived in southwest Scotland with super sunny Jubilee celebrations and the schedule of agricultural shows and community events well underway.
Between our monthly updates, don't forget you can contact any of our team at info@gsabiosphere.org.uk and find us on social media via the links at the bottom of this page.
Our chosen photos are from Colmonell - we stopped in at their Family Fun Day this month - on the right below are the Queen, Pageboy and Princess arriving in style.
In our biggest digital undertaking for several years, gsabiosphere.org.uk has been redesigned and went live this month. Highlights include a reinvigorated Proud Supporters map, which will continue to showcase all the businesses signed up to our Biosphere Charter; a full directory of our Biosphere Certification Mark businesses; a page devoted to Sustainable Development Goals and how local projects are striving to achieve 'the world's to do list'; and a platform for our Biosphere Guides - local people providing authentic, immersive tours and experiences that will take you to the heart of the Biosphere. Any feedback on the website is welcome and if you have any queries we'd be delighted to help. Email our Communications & Marketing lead via tamara@gsabiosphere.org.uk.
Our team joined the local community and visitors to Ballantrae on 11th & 12th June for the Ballantrae Festival of Food & Drink. GSAB has supported the festival since its inception and we couldn't be happier to see it return to an in-person event for the first time since 2019. As always when we host an information stand it's a great chance for us to hear directly what the Biosphere means to the people who live within it, and where they feel our priorities should lie. Issues raised over the weekend included footpath accessibility, waste disposal and littering, and support for South Ayrshire's farmers and food producers.
The Platinum Jubilee weekend included the 129th annual Carsphairn Show - an event that has been running since 1875, only taking breaks in war years, foot & mouth disease, and Covid-19. This historic agricultural show brings people together from across the Glenkens, primarily for sheep but also for industrial classes such as baking, home grown veg and flowers, plus lots of arts and crafts. With our own project, The Wool Gathering, looking at sheep farming and heritage skills, we particularly enjoyed seeing what people are making out of wool - it's not just for winter jumpers!
We are delighted to welcome two new Biosphere Certification Mark holders this month - Galloway Chillies and the Walled Garden Touring Park. There is not room within this newsletter to tell you about how hard Sheena, Barry and their respective teams work to support the Biosphere ethos of living sustainably and living local - please do check out their websites and social media. Below are a couple of photos sent in by Barry at the Walled Garden; left is their pergola beginning to flourish - a space for guests to sit and relax. And on the right are some of the herb boxes which have been placed around the park - fresh, homegrown food for guests to help themselves.
Biosphere Footsteps is our new series of climate literacy sessions for Biosphere Communities and will be taking place in Ochiltree on 30th June (6:30 - 8:30pm at the Hub) and Ballantrae on 13th August (10am - 3pm at the Kings Arms). Our aim is to bring local people together to discuss how we can support each other in living more sustainably, for example by saving energy and reducing waste. Biosphere Footsteps will be informal and interactive and there is no charge to attend. If you'd like to come please do just turn up - all are welcome! Alternatively email jenna@gsabiosphere.org.uk for further info, or look out for the posters in the village.
Finally...a warm welcome to all the individuals, businesses and community groups that have signed up as Proud Supporters of our UNESCO Biosphere recently. The amount of support for people, nature and Global Goals is amazing and everyone on Team GSAB firmly believes it demonstrates how southwest Scotland can be a model of better living for other regions and communities at home and abroad. Our newest Proud Supporters include Balsar Glen at Turnberry, South Ayrshire - regenerative farming producing 100% grass-fed beef; Alouette Nature Tours (Antoine is one of our trained Biosphere Guides); Gull Cottage - 4* self-catering on the Ayrshire coast; Galloway gardeners Miles & McCulloch; refill station The Wee Shop at Moffat; Colmonell Community Association (such a beautiful village - highly recommend a visit); eco cafe and shop Lean Bean at Thornhill; sheep and self-catering at Little Tahall Farm; Girvan-based The Biking Explorers (owned and led by another of our Biosphere Guides); and Georgian townhouse hotel The Garret in Kirkcudbright. Please do check out our Proud Supporters map below to see all the businesses that are members of our Proud Supporters scheme.
