Spring is well underway in the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, all around us there are sure signs of nature getting busy (despite restrictions!). Although we will never 'out do' nature, we have been extremely busy over the last few months. We have been working hard on our recruitment drive and welcoming new staff and Board members to the Biopshere team as well as continuing to work with our partners, communities and businesses to ensure the Biosphere is a place of cooperation and collaboration, that shows that a sustainable way of living is not only possible but already happening!
Kind regards, the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Team
#UNESCO
Biosphere Good for Business - Acting Local Thinking Global
Our Biosphere Certification Mark is awarded to businesses demonstrating their commitment to operating sustainably and championing what's special within the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere.
Three businesses have recently been successful in applying to use the Certification Mark which now makes 28 businesses in total who are officially recognised and can use the Certification Mark on the labelling of goods and in connection with their business.
Biosphere Bikes - Is a social enterprise based in Girvan, offering cycle hire and cycling activities as an active, sustainable, and environmentally friendly mode of travel, helping to reduce the impact of climate change and promoting cycling as a way to achieve good mental and physical well-being.
Galloway Wild Foods - Teaches people how to find, identify and sustainably harvest and use wild plants, fungi and seaweeds. This is delivered through foraging events and 1-to-1 Foraging Mentoring and Tuition. Galloway Wild Foods also work with local chefs and producers.
Solway View Holidays - A caravan and camping site in Borgue and provides grass camping and caravan and motorhome pitches, offering both electric and non- electric courtesy of Tina Turner the wind turbine. In addition, they have five wooden self-catering wigwam camping pods.
We are currently hosting the ‘Fork to Farm’ Dialogues for South West Scotland, which are being facilitated by Propagate, a collective of sustainable food systems, researchers and practitioners. The dialogues form the global conversation on a just transition to healthy and sustainable food systems and aim to build a platform for learning, knowledge-sharing and partnerships. Global dialogues are taking place across the world from Ecuador to Indonesia.
Visit the renewed PLACE in the Biosphere project page to discover the amazing work undertaken by nine rural communities. As they take a closer look at their natural and cultural heritage they are sharing what they find with others. Using a combination of old media and new you can visit castles using virtual reconstructions, watch videos to discover the meaning of place-names or browse old photographs featured in the Kirkcowan Street Exhibition. PLACE in the Biosphere is looking forward to revealing more about the heritage of our countryside.
We are delighted to welcome Jude to the Biosphere Team as our new Finance and Office Manager. Jude started at the beginning of Februray and is responsible for the all of the main aspects to ensure the efficient operation of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere. Jude lives in Galloway and brings with her a wealth of experience within the business and enterprise field. Her focus will be to make sure the Biosphere's day to day operations run smoothly and support the Biosphere Team in ensuring the Biosphere really is the success it deserves to be!
