A SOUTH Ayrshire village has become the first in the area to be designated a Biosphere Community.

Ballantrae has become the sixth such community within the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere and the first in South Ayrshire.

Residents were invited to take part in a ‘sense of place’ workshop in which they shared stories, favourite places, and thoughts on what makes Ballantrae unique.

A workshop took place in November and residents have worked over winter producing text and photographs for the dedicated Ballantrae webpage at gsabiosphere.org.uk.

This will promote the village to visitors from home and abroad who are seeking sustainable, slow tourism experiences in the area.

Jenna Cains, the biosphere’s community and education lead officer, said: “Ballantrae has a long relationship with the biosphere, which I have really only stepped into in recent months.

“But as with all our Biosphere Communities, it has been great fun learning about the village and the area and what makes it unique.

“Ballantrae has such a spectacular coastal location and is swirling with

legends and fables, alongside delivering world class events such as the annual Ballantrae Festival of Food and Drink.”

As the relationship between village and Biosphere grows the people of Ballantrae will be able to call on ‘Team GSAB’ for help in developing community initiatives and promoting events.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation makes its awards in recognition of attributes which are unique and of global importance, and Galloway and Southern Ayrshire was designated a ‘UNESCO Biosphere’ in

2012.

The GSA Biosphere is a community-led participatory organisation. Officers reach out to villages and towns across the Biosphere as part of their programme to support education, conservation and green enterprise, but the impetus to become a Biosphere Community comes from the community.

Community councils or development trusts are contacted and a series of meetings and public information sessions are held where residents have the opportunity to learn more about

the UNESCO designation and what a biosphere is and does.

The Biosphere Communities scheme invites residents to explore what is special about their locality and the attributes that most inspire community pride.

If the community supports the Biosphere ethos and feels that a closer connection with the organisation could be of benefit to the area then they are welcomed as a Biosphere Community.