A farm with an off-grid shepherds hut in South Ayrshire has launched a bid to protect one of the UK’s most popular “offline” spaces from the introduction of mobile phone network coverage.
The owners of Creeside Farm beside Galloway Forest Park, part of an officially designated UNESCO Biosphere, are lobbying authorities to prevent the introduction of 3G, 4G and 5G networks in the area. In partnership with Shackleton Whisky, the proposal, if successful, will be the first time a space of this kind has received protection, preserving it as an “offline sanctuary”.
The unique bid comes as new research from Shackleton Whisky reveals over half of British mobile phone users (56 per cent) find it impossible to switch off from technology. With the average user now spending a minimum of one hour and 26 minutes a day on their phone, over a third (34 per cent) have undertaken a digital detox to help escape distractions.
As well as petitioning to ring-fence the offline status of parts of Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, Shackleton Whisky has now developed the first “off-grid” map of the UK. The map pinpoints many of the best locations in the UK where people can switch off from emails and social media. View the map at offgrid.theshackletonwhisky.com
