A weekend for local communities to celebrate the Isle of Wight's UNESCO Biosphere status together, with events for everyone, all over the Island!

The Isle of Wight was awarded Biosphere Reserve status by UNESCO in 2019, only the seventh place in the UK to achieve this. It is a recognition of the unique combination of nature, people and places we have here, where communities and the environment work together in an increasingly sustainable way.

The festival will include two days of talks and workshops on a variety of Biosphere subjects at the Quay Arts Centre in Newport, as well as a weekend of family fun and learning at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary's FOCAS Festival. But it doesn't stop there, all around the island there will be events exploring local nature and our human connections with it. Most events are free and family friendly!

Confirmed events include: crafty activities for children at six local libraries, an open day at a local Wildlife Trust rewilding site, a Creative Biosphere market, a great oak walk, a wellbeing walk, a mindful forest walk and an arty walk, learning to identify moths from an overnight moth trap, a community clay art workshop, a fashion upcycling drop-in and exhibition, a permaculture food forest open day, a literary launch, a digital heritage trail, a an evening of songs about trees, and creative consultations for young people across two Newport venues. There will also be a bike ride for kids, a day of nature activities, storytelling and more.

For the latest programme see the event website and sign up to the mailing list. 

Please note some events will require booking, see individual event listings for details.