30 EVENTS ANNOUNCED FOR JUNE’S ISLE OF WIGHT BIOSPHERE FESTIVAL

30 events across the Island have been confirmed as part of the Isle of Wight Biosphere Festival on 29th and 30th June, with more to be announced soon. Many of the events are completely free and there are activities for adults and children alike. As well as a programme of talks and workshops at the Quay Arts Centre, the Biosphere Festival is proud to be partnering with the Festival of Conservation and Science (FOCAS) at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary in Sandown on both days. FOCAS will have a range of fun and imaginative activities for families, and entrance to the sanctuary will be only £2.50 (booking required). In Newport, to go with the Quay Arts events, there are creative drop-in sessions for young people at Independent Arts and the Youth Trust, including art-based consultation and exploring whether talking to plants will help your wellbeing. Ryde has lots for everyone to do: building wildlife habitats together at a community garden, a ‘Kidical Mass’ bike ride, a Mardi Gras costume making session, and sewing a tote bag at Ryde Library. In fact, there are crafty activities for kids at libraries in Newport, Freshwater, Sandown, Cowes and Ventnor as well. If you are interested in rewilding, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust have an open day where you can explore their Wilder Little Duxmore site, go on guided tours and meet some of the Trust’s conservation grazing livestock including their new Exmoor ponies. For those curious about seeing food forest cultivation techniques in action, Permaculture Island in Niton will also be throwing open their doors for a day. More nature activities are planned at Branstone at the Isle of Wight National Landscape’s base there, as well as at Carisbrooke Priory where they will be unveiling the arrivals in their overnight moth trap for a session on identifying these incredible creatures. Various walks are available with more planned: an arty walk along the Ventnor Coastal Path, a mindful forest walk in Brighstone and a wellbeing walk at Newtown, as well as a tour of the Great Oaks of Northwood Park. For anyone interested in sustainable fashion, why not bring your unwanted clothes to Bembridge for Holly Maslen to reimagine them, and see what else she has been creating along with artist Jo Hummel’s work on locally sourced dyes and pigments. In the West Wight, the Earth Museum have created a fun digital heritage trail to explore from Yarmouth to Chale, and there is a Creative Biosphere Market at The Green Barn, bringing together a selection of local artists, a demonstration by dyers, spinners and weavers, and craft activities for young people. For the evening there is a literary launch at Medina Bookshop, and Tree Songs with Paul Armfield at Sounds+Grounds, both in Cowes. And if you are thinking that your friends or family might want to travel over to the island to join you for this weekend celebration, there are special festival ferry discounts available to help. To find out more about the programme, sign up to the mailing list to get the latest news, learn about volunteering or to contact the festival organisers with your event idea, go to www.iwbiosphere.org/biospherefestival.