Ayrshire projects have been nominated for awards celebrating people and groups going above and beyond to protect the natural world and wildlife.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and NatureScot announced the shortlisted entrants in their Nature of Scotland Awards last week.
A South Ayrshire Biosphere designated by UNESCO is nominated in the Business category.
Covering Maybole, Girvan and Cumnock, the area stretches as far south as Whithorn.
The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere has been internationally recognised as a world class environment for people and nature.
A spokesperson for the project said: “Our shortlisting today in the Business category of Nature of Scotland Awards not only acknowledges our work with businesses, but the work of our businesses supporters who champion sustainability in our UNESCO Biosphere.”
A project that is farming in saltwater has been nominated in the Nature and Climate Action category.
Seawater Solutions’ farms on the Ayrshire coast are the first of their kind.
Drawing water from the sea to keep the crops watered, the Seawater Farms Scotland (SFS) project is able to grow food without using a drop of fresh water.
Anne McCall, director of RSPB Scotland, said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to every nomination and massive congratulations to those who have been shortlisted. This has been a uniquely challenging year for many and never has it felt more important to understand our interdependency with the natural world.”
The Nature of Scotland Awards, now in their ninth year, usually host a shortlisting event at the Scottish Parliament. This year, however, the Awards, turned to Twitter and Facebook to announce the shortlisted people and projects.
Anne McCall, director of RSPB Scotland and chair of the judging panel, said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to every nomination and massive congratulations to those who have been shortlisted. This has been a uniquely challenging year for many and never has it felt more important to understand our interdependency with the natural world. I wish everyone the best of luck and look forward to the online awards ceremony which will offer an opportunity for more of us than ever before to join in the celebrations.”
NatureScot Chief Executive Francesca Osowska said: “We’re so pleased to be co-sponsoring the Nature of Scotland Awards again this year, it is such a great opportunity to recognise those people in Scotland going above and beyond for our unique and precious environments.
“This year is set to be very different to previous Awards, but there are some fantastic projects shortlisted and I’d like to congratulate everyone who is making a difference for nature. We’re proud to be sponsoring the NatureScot Business Award again this year, celebrating businesses large and small who put the natural world at the heart of their work.”
The events ceremony will also be held online this year, hosted virtually by Make it Edinburgh Live on November 25.
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