Don’t miss two days of talks and workshops at the Quay Arts Centre in Newport to celebrate the Isle of Wight Biosphere as part of the first Biosphere Festival. All events are free, with no booking required.
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early for events that are not specified as drop-in, these will be first come first served.
Taking place between 10am-5pm on 29th and 30th June 2024.
Saturday 29th June
All day 10.00-17.00 (Cafe)
Learn about the IW UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, what it is and what it can do for the island, share your ideas, find out about Festival events and pick up handouts about wildlife friendly gardening and Biosphere activities for kids.
Doughnut Economics Workshop
10.00-11.00 (Rope Store)
Introducing Doughnut Economics as a means of creating a shared vision for the Isle of Wight. Come be part of this fun & inspirational process.
Creaturama workshop
10.00-12.00 (Seminar Room) Drop in
Make your own Biosphere-inspired cardboard creations with Anthony James of CREATURAMA. Great for kids but all welcome.
Bunting upcycling workshop
11.30-14.30 (Rope Store) Drop in
Help IOW Open Studios create new and beautiful signage for this year’s event by recycling bunting, boards and other materials. If possible please bring along any boards, bunting, or other materials for upcycling! A range of art materials and stencils will be provided.
Energy Equality (talk)
13.30-14.30 (Seminar Room)
What changes could we be making to our homes and the way we create local energy to reach energy equality? Lisa Beaney of Green Wight CIC will talk us through practicalities and possibilities from retrofitting to community managed energy projects.
Doughnut Economics Workshop
15.00-16.00 (Rope Store)
Introducing Doughnut Economics as a means of creating a shared vision for the Isle of Wight. Come be part of this fun & inspirational process.
Isle of Wight Folk Songs with The Watch (performance)
15.30-16.30 (Seminar Room)
Listen to a collection of folk songs collected by local folk musicians that were written on or about the island and hear more about how they were made and collected, may include a selection remembered being sung at home and pubs in and around the Brighstone area.
Sunday 30th June
All day 10.00-17.00 (Cafe)
Learn about the IW UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, what it is and what it can do for the island, share your ideas, find out about Festival events and pick up handouts about wildlife friendly gardening and Biosphere activities for kids.
Printmaking workshop
10.30-12.30 (Seminar Room) Drop in.
Join artist Trudie Wilson for some mini intaglio printmaking inspired by the Isle of Wight Biosphere. This simplified version is a great introduction to printmaking and using a printing press. All ages.
Wildlife Friendly Gardening for Small Gardens (talk)
13.30-14.30 (Seminar Room)
Want to do more for birds and bugs and other animals in your garden, but only have a small space? Local gardener and garden landscaper Claire Draper (The Plant Shop & The New View (IW) Ltd) is passionate about sharing practical ideas to help you do this at any scale. Chance to ask questions and get ideas specific to your own garden.
Newport Nature Walk
14.00-16.00. (Meet in cafe)
Join local naturalist and recent president of the Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological society Matthew Chatfield to explore some of the wildlife sites that can be reached on foot from Newport town centre. 4 miles approx, suitable for dogs on leads, there will be steps and some rough terrain, wear suitable footwear.
Our Prehistoric Island (talk)
15.30-16.30 (Seminar Room).
Join Archaeologist Dr Ruth Waller to learn about our prehistoric Island ancestors and handle some of the flint tools they left behind. From the Palaeolithic (400,000 years ago) when primitive humans visited to the Bronze Age (2500 to 700 BC) when tribal leaders were buried in the mounds still visible on the downs, learn how glimpses of our prehistoric past still survive within the landscapes of the IW Biosphere.
