The Biosphere Festival is to return this year.

The local nature and community festival will take place from June 28 to July 6, with 40 events already planned, and there are lots of ways you can get involved.

Last year saw more than 50 events taking place all over the Island over a single weekend, with around 4,500 festival event visitors, but for 2025 organisers are aiming for it to be even bigger and better, and to take place over nine days.

Events this year will kick off with FOCAS Fest, at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary in Yaverland. Elsewhere there will be walks, talks, film screenings, workshops, storytelling sessions, open days and more. The events will be planned by local organisations, including Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, National Trust, National Landscape, local libraries, Quay Arts centre, and Medina Bookshop. For budding writers, there will be a Biosphere Festival Writing Competition, organised by Naked Figleaf Press.

If you have an idea for an event, the Biosphere Festival has room for lots more. They can be small, catering for just a few people, or much bigger if you have capacity. They could involve wildlife, landscape, art, economics, science, gardening, or any issue that feels relevant to the biosphere.

You can find details via iw.observer/biosphere-festival, where you can also sign up for the free newsletter to be the among the first to get programme details.