Heart of the Biosphere, the short film produced by the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership, is set to have its Ayrshire premiere at the Carrick Centre in Maybole on 11th January 2025.
The landmark documentary short was developed by the Biosphere team in collaboration with Midlands-based Lilac Howell Films and partner organisations including RSPB Scotland, Forestry and Land Scotland, and the South West Scotland Environmental Information Centre.
Aiming to foster connections with the remote, wild land areas at the core of the UNESCO region, Heart of the Biosphereexplores the uplands of Merrick-Kells and the wetlands at Silver Flowe. These unique habitats are the foundation of south Scotland's UNESCO Biosphere status, which recognises natural and cultural heritage of international importance and provides a framework for conservation and sustainable development.
The Carrick Centre screening marks the next stage of a campaign to share the film across the UK and beyond. Heart of the Biosphereis slated for several local events and has also been accepted for the Staffordshire Film Festival at the end of January.
The GSA Biosphere's officer team, which includes specialists in land use and biodiversity, hope that this important message of protecting Scotland's wilderness will reach far and wide. Merrick-Kells and Silver Flowe are home to some of the country's most iconic species including peregrines, golden eagles, otters and wild goats, as well as the rare and beautiful Azure hawker dragonfly, a species only found in Scotland. Heart of the Biospherewas shot over a continuous 12-month period to capture seasonal changes, and carefully timed to minimise environmental impacts, with Lilac Howell often fielding just a single-person film crew.
The lack of human intervention in these Core Areas of the Biosphere make them a refuge for wading birds, pine martens, invertebrates, mosses and wetland plants, including the carnivorous round-leaved sundew that appears on the Biosphere's logo.
Tamara Fulcher, the Biosphere's Communications & Marketing lead, has been involved in the film project since 2022 and will be co-hosting the Maybole event.
"Ayrshire residents have been asking when the film would launch here for a while now and we are delighted to bring it to the Carrick Centre's brilliant modern space which has great transport connections for those who wish to attend from further afield," Tamara says. "Heart of the Biosphereis uniquely elevating in its short run time, taking viewers to places most are unlikely to visit in real life and revealing the species that are vitally important to our ecosystems yet under constant threat from climate change and human activity. We hope the Ayrshire premiere will be not only a wonderful viewing experience but a call to action in support of the UNESCO Biosphere's amazing wildlife and habitats."
Councillor Alec Clark, Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Culture and Rural Affairs who represents South Ayrshire Council on the UNESCO Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Board said:
"This film will help highlight the importance of our Biosphere to people living in Scotland and beyond. The film captures the beauty of the varying landscapes across the seasons as well as the important wildlife that call this part of the world home. I am sure anyone watching the film will be inspired to help protect the Biosphere for future generations. The Carrick Centre is great venue to host the film and I would encourage people to sign up for the free screening now."
Tickets for the Carrick Centre event on Saturday 11thJanuary 2025 are free and can be booked via the Biosphere's Eventbrite page (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heart-of-the-biosphere-a-year-in-the-life-of-merrick-kells-silver-flowe-tickets-1083076343499).
The film will be followed by an informal discussion on the issues raised with light refreshments provided. There will also be the opportunity to hear more about one of the Biosphere's key current programmes, the Ayrshire Small Scale Tree Planting Grant, which is open to individuals, businesses, organisations and community groups, with up to £1,000 per application available for planting native broadleaf trees in the UNESCO region.
The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership is a registered Scottish charity (SC044137) delivering projects in conservation, education, sustainable development and climate resilience. For more information about opportunities to get involved or to support their work, or for further details on Heart of the Biosphere and other upcoming events, please visit www.gsabiosphere.org.uk or email info@gsabiosphere.org.uk.
