The village of Carsphairn in Dumfries & Galloway has been announced as the newest addition to the Biosphere Communities scheme, the pioneering sustainable development initiative led by the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership.
Carsphairn is the fourteenth community to join the scheme and the eighth in Dumfries & Galloway. Biosphere Communities are located across the UNESCO-designated region, which covers 9,720km² in three local authority areas. The designated villages and towns have a close working relationship with the GSA Biosphere Partnership and are supported to develop community-led tourism, nature and heritage projects, and low carbon living ideas. They are also promoted internationally as part of Scotland’s UNESCO Trail, the award-winning collaboration between Biospheres, World Heritage Sites, Creative Cities, and Global Geoparks.
The GSA Biosphere Partnership was established as a SCIO in 2013 and hosts a wide range of ongoing initiatives including the Biosphere Certification Mark accreditation for local businesses, the Biosphere Guides training programme and Sustainable Events Charter, and the Biosphere Badge for Scouts and Guides. The organisation’s activity programme is focused on widening participation in sustainable development and creating closer connections between people and nature.
The programme for Biosphere Communities includes developing walking trails, adventure itineraries, and outdoor interpretation for landmarks and historic sites. Events led by the Biosphere team range from ecology walks and wildlife recording to workshops for local enterprise. The support available for community-led tourism builds on international attention drawn by features in National Geographic Traveller, Rough Guides, Lonely Planet and Wanderlust magazine, all of which acclaimed the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere as a must-see destination in 2024.
Faith Hillier, the Biosphere’s Community Officer, said, “We have already created some fantastic connections with people who live and work in and around Carsphairn and are particularly proud to showcase the area’s local history.
Carsphairn has a fascinating past rooted in agriculture and industry which is still being actively explored by the Carsphairn Heritage Initiative. This is one of a wonderful variety of volunteer-run organisations and for a small village with one main street Carsphairn hosts an incredible calendar of events, not least the internationally renowned Knockengorroch Festival of music and arts. We are delighted to be working with so many residents and community groups and look forward to making the most of our partnership with Carsphairn in the months and years to come.” The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership is a registered Scottish Charity (SC044137) supported by funders including South of Scotland Enterprise, and Dumfries & Galloway, East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire Councils.
More information is available at www.gsabiosphere.org.uk or by email request to [email protected].
One partner. No competitors. Full visibility across the region.
