RIGHT across the Isle of Wight there will be huge array of community events celebrating its first-ever Biosphere Festival.

Local businesses, organisations and communities are invited to come together to recognise the Island's biosphere status over the weekend of Saturday, June 29, and Sunday, June 30.

The Isle of Wight was awarded UNESCO biosphere reserve status five years ago, with the festival its first opportunity to celebrate that.

A wide variety of family-friendly events will be held across the Island over the two days.

(Image: Isle of Wight Biosphere Festival)

How to find out what's going on at the Biosphere Festival

For the full programme and other details about the festival, follow this LINK

The Biosphere Festival is produced by Isle of Wight Biosphere, in partnership with Creative Island, supported by Liz Earle, The Common Space and Isle of Wight National Landscape.

Working in partnership with the Festival of Conservation and Science at Sandown's Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, "fun and imaginative" activities are available both days, costing £2.50, with booking required.

A free programme of talks, walks, workshops and performances is being offered at Newport's Quay Arts, the Biosphere Festival's hub, from folk songs, crafts and wildlife-friendly gardening, to a 'Doughnut Economics' workshop aimed at creating a shared vision for the Island.

Also in Newport, there will be creative drop-in sessions for young people at Independent Arts and the Isle of Wight Youth Trust.

Platform1 music college will open its 'Sustainable Fashion' concept store, with workshops, screenings and a shop, followed by an evening walk focusing on swifts.

In Ryde, events will range from a 'Kidical Mass' cycle ride and sewing, to Mardi Gras costume making. 

There's also craft-based activities for kids at libraries in Newport, Freshwater, Sandown, Cowes and Ventnor.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust will host an open day, with guided tours, to explore its Little Duxmore site, while 'food forest' cultivation techniques can be seen in action at Permaculture Island, Niton.

Why not walk the prize-winning Biosphere Nature Trail at Brading Roman Villa?

At the Isle of Wight National Landscape base in Branstone, near Apse Heath, and at Carisbrooke Priory, moths caught in overnight traps will be studied.

Other walks include an 'arty' one along Ventnor's Coastal Path, in Brighstone Forest and at Newtown, a tour of Northwood Park's great oaks.

With a nod to sustainable fashion, why not bring your unwanted clothes to Bembridge for Holly Maslen to reimagine, or perhaps view work on locally sourced dyes and pigments by artist Jo Hummel?

The Earth Museum has created a digital heritage trail, linking Yarmouth and Chale, to view, while Yarmouth's Creative Biosphere Market, at The Green Barn, will hosts craft activities and demonstrations.

In Shalfleet, there will be a talk on solar energy and biodiversity by Wight Community Energy.

Godshill Community will entertain with song and a picnic at Munsley Bog.

In Cowes, Island musician Paul Armfield will perform 'Tree Songs', at Sounds+Grounds, plus there's a literary launch at Medina Bookshop.