BIOSPHERE FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

Throughout the festival. An exciting collaborative project between local artists Alice Malia and Laura Hathaway, ‘Sheltered’ will see the 14 neglected shelters along Appley Beach in Ryde transformed over the course of this Summer. This installation will show some of the work in progress for this project, giving us an exciting insight into this imminent transformation of Ryde’s seafront.

Join Sandown librarians for a kid’s nature scavenger hunt to celebrate our Biosphere. Prize to be won, can be done any time during the festival. Pick up the information from Sandown library during opening hours.

Open all week; Grammar’s Common, with its dense, almost impenetrable woodland and ancient Black Barrow is an unusual place and well worth a visit. A chance to talk with John Osborn who is working the land throughout the festival and can answer your questions.

Families can come along to Ryde Library and create Lego plants and animals.

Ryde Library will be tipping out all of their Lego so that children and families can build Lego trees and plants that will be displayed in the library.

The National Poo Museum is heading to Department this summer. Discover the weird and wonderful world of poo at the National Poo Museum!

A sustainable/circular local fashion collaboration for four days between Holly Maslen and Kori. All clothing is sourced, second hand here on the Island, before hand-painted designs are added, making the clothes once again desirable and extending their life span. Also bespoke clothing made from old linen and lace. Made in response to the clothing see Appley oak gall drawings, alongside paper sculptures related to form and movement.

Walk via Abbey church through woodland and on to the Old Abbey ruins with the very knowledgeable chairman of the ”Friends of Quarr”. The walk (on private Quarr land) takes you around the ancient ruins and describes the workings of a medieval monastery, you are very welcome to ask questions!

Quarr is a great place to see the red squirrels and the whole site has a very special peaceful atmosphere. There lots of places to sit and ponder and it’s close to lovely walks. The Abbey church itself is awesome in the true sense.

Step away from the hustle of modern life and join the National Trust for a guided wellbeing walk through the stunning Newtown National Nature Reserve.

This gentle walk is designed to help you connect with nature on a deeper level, with opportunities for mindfulness, meditation, and sensory experiences along the way.

Join Wight Nature Fund for our Biosphere Day on the 5th July at Yarmouth Community Centre (CHOYD), a celebration of nature and community, highlighting the Isle of Wight’s UNESCO Biosphere status.

Includes a group scavenger hunt, a guided walk and a whole day of displays, quizzes and refreshments at the hall.

Learn how to create colourful memories in your sketchbook while walking on the hills over St. Catherine's point with artist Lucia Para. Lucia Para is an Italian artist and illustrator and she will share her favourite techniques to start a sketchbook practice outdoors (or enrich your existing one).

From the team at Isle of Wight National Landscape.

Brading Roman Villa are hosting a special Sketching Workshop led by local artist Lucy Bell called “sketching the Ancient Landscape”. This two-hour session offers a chance to slow down, connect with nature, and capture the beautiful surroundings of the Villa through art.

Celebrating all things fabric at Gurnard village hall, both body and textiles. Stalls and exercise activities, with afternoon workshops such as creative mending of beloved items with a moth hole, stain or small tear to keep clothing from going to waste. Refreshments will be available.

An exhibition of the nine principles of the Isle of Wight UNESCO Biosphere Reserve showcased through island organisations.

More details coming soon.

Translating Frequencies: 639 is a site-specific immersive sound installation by artist Nathan Holt, hosted at All Saints Church, Calbourne, a 12th-century site of architectural and cultural heritage. The work incorporates acoustic and subsonic sounds captured within the church and its surrounding natural environment, composed around the harmonic frame work of 639Hz. Visitors are invited to engage in deep listening within the fabric of the building itself.

If you’re aged under 16yrs, are arty and creative, and interested in supporting the amazing Isle of Wight Biosphere do pop along to Independent Arts to join in with a simple and fun craft activity.

Brading Roman Villa are hosting a special Sketching Workshop led by local artist Lucy Bell called “sketching the Ancient Landscape”. This two-hour session offers a chance to slow down, connect with nature, and capture the beautiful surroundings of the Villa through art.