The Common Space is proud to announce that not just one but three and free wild new Story Trail adventure days or ‘Biosphere in the Bay Days’ have been lined up this summer, giving local families new ways to explore the wild fringes, urban icons, wetlands, and shores around Sandown Bay.
Discover Browns and beyond, Sandown Battery and Branstone Farm through the tales/tails of pipits, ivy bees and more wildlife mates! And that’s not all!
Biosphere in the Bays: Have your say
Each of these art, nature and literacy-led events will give us a chance to have our say on an upcoming, exciting new project, ‘Biosphere in the Bays’… what do we want or need to help us all create, conserve, and of course, celebrate wilder places in Sandown and Ventnor Bays?
Sandown Bay’s Story Trails are free booklets specially designed by Isle of Wight writers and illustrators through The Common Space in partnership with the National Literacy Trust. Each booklet is very different, making use of language and images or QR barcodes and YouTube recordings, ID guides and activities but each illuminating a bit of our Island Biosphere’s natural, human, and built heritage.
Explore your new sparkling new story trail
At each of this summer’s Biosphere in the Bay Days, the plan is to head off to explore with your new sparkling new story trail. Bring a picnic for when you’re done, come back to join the artists who brought these familiar places to new life on the page for hands-on arts workshops, Vox Pops and Big Draws too!
Grogan: Encouraging communities to connect and engage with the natural, cultural and built environment
Richard Grogan, AONB Manager, said,
“The Isle of Wight AONB Partnership are pleased to be supporting these events with the Arts Council England. The Isle of Wight UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve is not just a badge but a call for change to encourage our communities to connect and engage with the natural, cultural and built environment.
“In a post-Covid world these connections are more important than ever, but we need to know what the community thinks.
“Please pop along and give your views on how we can continue to make the Isle of Wight Biosphere an increasingly environmentally friendly place to live, work and play.”
Browns & Beyond with Iris and Shrewbert
Saturday 17th June 2023 – 11am prompt
Meet us at the Blue Fountains outside Browns Cafe, Culver Parade, Sandown PO36 8QA
- Collect your Story Trail and Explore!
- Make your own Wild Map with artist Lucia Para
- Big Draw with The Common Space
Bring a picnic and wear comfy shoes!
How to get here: Walk along the seafront, Beryl-it, Bike-it, Bus-it (Dinosaur Isle is the nearest stop), or park at Dinosaur Isle car park (PO36 8QA).
Sandown Battery Trail with Ivy Bee, Gully and the National Poo Crew
Saturday 24th June 2023 – 11am on the dot
Battery Gardens, Talbot Road, Sandown, PO36 9EB
- Supersize Gully and make your own Ivy Bee-bombs over Trail Tales with Jules Marriner and Sue Bailey
- Big Draw with The Common Space
Bring a picnic and wear comfy shoes!
How to get here: Walk-it, Beryl-it, Bike-it, Bus-it, or park at The Heights Leisure Centre, or visit the Website for directions.
Branstone Farm with Bran the Wild Explorer
Sunday 9th July 2023 – 11am sharpish
Meet us at the Biosphere Centre, Branstone Farm, Branstone, Sandown PO36 0LT
- Nature Trail Table and Wild Art with illustrator Zoe Sadler
- Big Draw with The Common Space
Bring a picnic and wear comfy shoes!
How to get here: Walk to us if you live next door, limited parking at Branstone Farm, Bus no. 8 to Amazon World with a 10-minute walk.
Event schedule
- Start each adventure at 11am! Rock up for a big welcome, collect your Story Trail and head off with all your family to explore…
- Once you’re done discovering, meet us back at basecamp, where your picnics and surprise treats combine with nature, art, makings or stories for the afternoon. Help us with the Big Draw to decide what happens next in Biosphere in the Bays.
- Bring your own picnic and expect treats. Wear comfy shoes and expect bumpy bits!
#BiosphereinTheBays #StoryQuest #TheCommonSpace #IrisManifesto #ShapingBetterPlaces #IWBiosphere
Follow The Common Space on Facebook @TheBayTCS, Twitter @spaceIW and Instagram @thecommonspaceiw to find out more!
And for more information on Biosphere in the Bays and other upcoming events or news about the Isle of Wight UNESCO Biosphere, visit the Website.
News shared by Claire on behalf of The Common Space. Ed
