The latest awards of the Biosphere Certification Mark have been announced and we are proud to welcome five new award-holders, and to confirm renewal of certification status for five others. Do have a read of our feature below - these are all local, independent businesses that are striving to embed sustainability in their operations wherever possible. For anyone interested in getting certified the next round of applications is open now and the scheme is still entirely free. If your business is located in the GSA Biosphere region and you'd like to have an informal chat about applying, get in touch with marie@gsabiosphere.org.uk. Our pic shows Paul Osborne, trained Biosphere Guide and now a Biosphere Certification Mark holder for The Biking Explorers.
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Our first ever Climate Action Networker took place at the end of February. The event was fully booked before we could blink and attracted reporters from ITV and BBC Dumfries. This was truly a unique meet-up in which we discussed - and in some instances tried for ourselves! - an astonishing variety of approaches to climate action. Participants and speakers included SCCAN, EcoArt from Kirkcudbright, and the MAC-CAN Croft. Read more via the link below.
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The Biosphere's Most Wanted had its official launch in Glentrool on World Wildlife Day (3rd March). A great turnout supported by the wonderful team at Glentrool Hive for this nature recording project which is tracking key species across our region. We're using iNaturalist which is free, accessible and fun. And it's not just our six chosen species which are of interest: any plant, bug, bird, mammal or fish can be recorded, dead or alive, and the data you submit will be available to important national and global research projects. Interested and want to know more? For upcoming workshop dates drop a line to project lead Malcolm Haddow via malcolm@gsabiosphere.org.uk, and take a look at GSAB's YouTube channel via the link below for some great locations to explore.
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The Wool Gathering's fourth Bleat n' Blether was held in the Biosphere Community of Barrhill last week. Special thanks to attendees who brought their crafts and heirloom items to share with the group. Marie, GSAB's Business Development lead, is heading GSAB's Blackface wool pilot and was excited to update everyone on progress so far - which included a look at our first prototype of a 100% Blackface jumper! Don't forget the ongoing, open invite to join us in The Wool Gathering on Facebook, linked below.
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Did you know that the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere is part of Scotland's UNESCO Trail? This unique journey between the nation's world class visitor destinations launched in 2021 and has already won international awards for its focus on slow, sustainable travel and authentic, community-led tourism initiatives, including GSAB's own Biosphere Communities. Our link below will take you a great feature on the trail from iNews, published at the end of February.
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