Greetings to all our friends across the Biosphere and beyond! Many of us have been hunkering down during the rain of recent weeks but we've got updates from recent outdoor events below, plus an in-person Business & Biodiversity Workshop coming up at Cample Line - scroll down to book.
Any questions or feedback on our features? You can contact our team via info@gsabiosphere.org.uk and find us on social media via the links at the bottom of this page.
On dreich days there are worse things to do than get comfy indoors and listen to a presentation by our team. Here's Malcolm, one of our Project Support Officers, speaking to a group from SRUC at Threave Estate earlier this week about the GSA Biosphere and his own experience as a young person working towards a career in wildlife and conservation.
Local people joined a global community to celebrate the first International Day for Biosphere Reserves on 3rd November. There are currently 738 UNESCO Biospheres in 134 countries around the world and the purpose of launching an annual awareness day is "to provide...a wake-up call on the sustainable development approach to modern life and the leading and exemplary role that the World Network of Biosphere Reserves can play." (unesco.org). Alongside our sister Biospheres in the UK and Ireland, GSAB took a look at Biosphere life through Q&As with residents. Our thanks to all participants for helping us create some wonderful digital content to share around the world.
GSAB's Director, Ed, and Jenna from our Community & Education team, got together with the new Climate Hub Network coordinators for D&G and Ayrshire in Dalmellington last month to discuss opportunities for collaboration. Steven, Iona and Joe are part of Scottish Communities Climate Action Network (SCCAN) which supports community-led action on climate change, building local resilience through training and resources, regional networking, provision of digital spaces and grant funding. Are you part of a project or group that could benefit from SCCAN's support? Read more about what they offer via the link below.
We'll be up at Cample Line later this month hosting a free Business & Biodiversity Workshop - everyone is welcome, whether you're working with a window box or wilderness meadow. There are many ways to make space for nature and our business engagement and land use officers will be on hand with help and advice. This is an informal and interactive session for businesses of all sectors and sizes, and we'll have some light refreshments too. Book your place via the link below.
The Wool Gathering is the social side of our Blackface wool pilot project which is exploring opportunities to revitalise the market for fleeces produced locally, and how we might create wearable and desirable items for sale. Our inaugural Bleat n' Blethers took place in October to celebrate Wool Month, meeting in Dalmellington, Castle Douglas and Girvan where our wool gatherers brought along heirloom pieces and samples from their creative projects to share. Do take a look at our public Facebook group linked below to see more of our photos and join the discussion if you wish - we're a mix of farmers, makers, flock owners, and a curious general public!
The Wild Goose Festival was an incredible success this year, bringing together history, wildlife and the arts in a unique and accessible programme of events hosted by The Stove Network. GSAB plus colleagues from Dublin Bay UNESCO Biosphere across the water got together to discuss the Brent geese (and others) that visit us each autumn, and our team led a very wet but equally rewarding 'Birding for Brents' at Loch Ryan, Stranraer. No fewer than 46 species of bird were spotted - well done to all who did the ID-ing 'on the wing'! Read more about it below.
Our second Biosphere Guide Training Course of 2022 took place at Straiton, South Ayrshire, in October, led by Stef Lauer of Hands On Consulting with inputs from Marie McNulty, GSAB's Business Development lead, and Elizabeth Tindal, Biosphere Guide and Dark Sky Ranger. The course is aimed at local people looking to create authentic and immersive guided experiences based on their knowledge, personal passions, and of course the amazing UNESCO Biosphere we all share. Many previous graduates are using their training within new businesses (take a look via the link below) and we look forward to seeing what Team Straiton do next! Congratulations to everyone who took part and achieved guide certification.
Finally...a warm welcome to all the individuals, businesses and community groups that have signed up as Proud Supporters of our UNESCO Biosphere recently. They include smallholding and sheep paradise Auchenstroan at Moniaive; textile artists Alison Corfield and Therese Johnson; coffee, cake and art oasis The Gallery at Laurieston; and scenic stop-off OakHill Cafe and Deli at Carsluith. The commitment of local people to sustainability is amazing and we believe it demonstrates how southwest Scotland can be a model of better living at home and abroad. Please do check out our Proud Supporters map below to see all the businesses that are members of our Proud Supporters scheme.
