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Welcome to the 2nd Autumn 2015 edition of Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere news!

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Biosphere Community

St John’s Town of Dalry is a community at the heart of the Biosphere. It is a village steeped in history and we have welcomed visitors for hundreds of years, from pilgrims travelling from Whithorn to Edinburgh to modern day users of the Southern Upland Way long distance footpath. It attracted and welcomed me 16 years ago and my family have made it our home over that time. It sits above the River Ken in delightful countryside with wonderful views of the Rhinns of Kells to the north west. It is a vibrant village, with a great many groups of different ages holding regular events and meetings in the community-owned buildings, from Brownies and Guides to informal art groups, Guid Neighbours and our monthly farmers’ market. The Community Council is delighted to be signatories to the Biosphere Charter and look forward to engaging with projects in the future.

If you are a community group, business, school or individual you can be a proud supporter of the Biosphere by signing the Charter.

Andrew Bielinski
Dalry Community Council

Climate Ready Biosphere

The Climate Ready Biosphere Vision and Action Plan launched at the Biosphere office by Climate Change Minister, Aileen McLeod MSP who said,

‘No single organisation, business or community will be able to adapt to climate change in isolation, which is why this work is so important. The Climate Ready Biosphere Vision, produced by Biosphere and Adaptation Scotland, sets out how this project will provide valuable insight and leadership on climate change adaptation in the coming years and months'.

Find out more about the Climate Ready Biosphere Vision and Action Plan here

Success for Galloway Glens lottery bid

Heritage Lottery Fund has announced that Dumfries and Galloway Council has been awarded funding towards the development of the Galloway Glens project in the Ken / Dee valley. A total of £2.9m has also been set aside by Heritage Lottery Fund to be used for the project on successful completion of the development stage.

The development stage of our Galloway Glens Heritage Lottery Landscape Partnership Scheme will be starting very soon. People living in the Ken/Dee valley between Carsphairn and Kirkcudbright will be invited to help decide how a variety of project ideas are developed for this prestigious scheme located within the Biosphere.

Further information including opportunities to get involved will be posted on social media and appear in the press.

Find out more here

Social Enterprise and Biosphere

Social Enterprises are businesses that provide local environmental or social services and because their economic activity is based on underlying community values they deliver Biosphere Principles. Scottish based Assist Social Capital has been working to introduce social enterprise into the Man and Biosphere Action Plan and hosted a conference at New Cumnock. The ‘Towards a World MAB Social Enterprise Strategy 2016-2025’ conference brought together delegates from Biospheres across the world who identified activities that deliver local, national and global actions on Social Enterprise and Biosphere Reserves to be presented at the 2016 Biosphere Conference in Peru.

Bountiful Biosphere

A map on the Biosphere website now shows businesses who are proud supporters of the Biosphere. Hawthorn House B & B in Port William and Chapel Outon Farm House B & B in Whithorn have recently signed up to the Biosphere Charter and both are delighting their guests with fresh local produce.

Tim and Hilary Pavitt of Hawthorn House are bringing visitors from across the world to enjoy and appreciate this wonderful area. They source food for guests from local producers including eggs, meats and dairy produce.

Kathryn Annison of Chapel Outon farmhouse works hard to attract visitors who are unfamiliar with the local area and also values local produce, growing her own organic produce as well as using local suppliers. Both businesses make sure their guests are aware of high quality local products and encourage visitors to take some delicious local-produce home with them.

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