AYRSHIRE residents who are passionate about bio-life are being offered training to develop their knowledge - and to pass it on to others.

The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere has announced that it will be offering a second Biosphere Guide Training Course in 2022, following the success of the last course in March.

Four days of training will be held at Straiton in South Ayrshire over two weekends in October and the course is entirely free to attend.

The training is aimed at interested local people based on guiding or tours and will equip them to provide immersive visitor experiences that celebrate the wildlife, culture and rural heritage of south-west Scotland. 

Topics to be covered include environmental awareness and sense of place, alongside start-up essentials such as health and safety, insurance and accreditation.

As per the Biosphere’s international remit there will be a strong focus on sustainability: how to run a creative guiding or tour-based enterprise that positively impacts the environment, communities, and the local economy.

As a bonus the course will also feature an evening ‘Darkness and Stars’ activity led by Elizabeth Tindal aka ‘Freelance Ranger’ – a trained Biosphere Guide – for the benefit of those who might wish to incorporate the attractions of southwest Scotland’s Gold-Tier Dark Sky Park within their plans.

Stef Lauer of Hands On Consulting will lead October’s course, having delivered the Biosphere guide training pre-Covid and again in March this year.

Among recent course graduates was Anstey Spraggan (aka Anstey Harris), an award-winning novelist who runs Write SW Scotland, immersive writers’ retreats based at Bridge of Dee, Castle Douglas.

Speaking about the Biosphere Guide Training, Anstey says, “I loved the course!

"I loved finding out about the other parts of the Biosphere that meant so much to the others on the course, and meeting such interesting and fun people: I'm now working with a few of them within my own business.

"It's really broadened my horizons whilst simultaneously keeping them local.”

Having previously used Kirroughtree near Newton Stewart as its base the Biosphere Guide Training is now moving across to South Ayrshire to maximise accessibility for those living further west.

The course will take place on October 22-23 and 29-30 with McCandlish Hall, Straiton, as its principal location.

Anyone interested in applying is invited to email Marie McNulty, the Biosphere’s Business Development Officer, at marie@gsabiosphere.org.uk to request further information or schedule a chat. Applications will close on September 22.

More information about Biosphere Guide Training and Galloway & Southern Ayrshire’s UNESCO designation is available at www.gsabiosphere.org.uk.