Greetings to all our friends across the Biosphere and beyond! We are beginning to see the changing of seasons as evenings get shorter and cooler and mushrooms appear in the woods, and autumn brings with it new opportunities to get outdoors and explore - keep scrolling to find out more!
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.
The photo below was taken at Carsphairn Community Woodland where we have joined our friends from CCW and Galloway Glens to host walks, talks and explorations as part of the Autumn Wildlife Bonanza. Pic shows our Community Officer Faith with a bundle of red squirrels, a High Focus species in our UNESCO Biosphere that we and our partners are working to protect.
We're extremely excited for the next Biosphere Guide Training Course which will be taking place at Straiton, South Ayrshire in October. Applications are open NOW and close on 22/09 - there is no charge to attend but we ask that you are available for the full four days (dates and info via the link below). Photos were taken at our last course held at Newton Stewart back in March.
Proud Supporter businesses located within the Biosphere region are warmly invited to apply for the Biosphere Certification Mark. This is the second (and last) application window of 2022 which will close on 21st November. Certification brings with it support in sustainability, marketing, and even land management, if land is part of your business! Local businesses of all sizes have been awarded our certification mark since the scheme launched in 2018 and we are thrilled to welcome the newest members of this dynamic enterprise network, who were approved for the Biosphere Certification Mark by our review panel last month: Way of the Wild, Write South West Scotland, Swim the Lochs, and Kirkcudbright Art Tours. Online info sessions for prospective applicants are coming up on the 23rd and 26th of this month - full details via the link below.
Looking ahead to October we will be hosting Connecting Cairnsmore, a very special series of events to explore and discuss one of the Core Areas of the GSA Biosphere. A National Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest, Cairnsmore's heritage, conservation value and sense of place are an essential part of our UNESCO Biosphere designation. Please join us and our partners NatureScot, Creetown Initiative and Gatehouse Development Initiative for these immersive sessions, available to book now on Eventbrite via the link below, and if you can't make the dates we invite you to read about our team's visit to the site this summer.
Our Director, Ed, and Biosphere Officers Jenna and Mary are away in Austria this week for EuroMAB 2022. This annual conference brings together representatives from UNESCO Biospheres around the world to share news, projects, and make the international connections that are such a key part of our remit. Our host is the Nockberge Biosphere Reserve which, like GSAB, is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year! The team are sending back amazing photos from Austria every day which we are sharing on our social media platforms, please do take a look. The link below will take you to the EuroMAB 2022 site where you can find out more about this year's theme: Tying Cultures - Crossborder Cooperation Between Societies and Generations.
A wee reminder that Glenkens Food Month is underway, truly a celebration of community and sustainable local produce, much of which is available to order via our Proud Supporters the Glenkens Food Hub. One of our recent online articles talked about food and farming in the Biosphere and there are many ways for local people to get involved, whether as members of the farming community, owners of retail or hospitality businesses, or individuals who want to find out how to access community food projects. Take a look at the D&G Sustainable Food Partnership to discover just some of what's happening here, or see our Explore the Biosphere Mapwhich has a Food & Drink section that spotlights all our Proud Supporters in this sector. Finally: the date for the last in the series of The Land Remains has been announced, an event to experience and discuss regenerative farming, to take place at Biosphere-certified Low Auldgirth Steading.
Autumn is also special for the opportunity to witness the seasonal journey of migratory birds, and here in the GSA Biosphere we will be welcoming our light bellied Brent geese via events at the Wild Goose Festival 2022. Please take a look at the programme below which demonstrates how our wildlife and wetland landscapes are so closely connected with storytelling and the creative arts. Our team is proud to be a festival partner and co-host of events including with our friends at Dublin Bay Biosphere.
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 Newmilns social enterprise CycleStation, rare and native breed farm Baile Curraich, guided experience providers Dumfries Tours, and historic holiday home Tig Cottage. The commitment of local people to sustainability 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. Please do check out our Proud Supporters map below to see all the businesses that are members of our Proud Supporters scheme.
