Light pollution is detrimental to wildlife and people alike. By becoming a Dark Sky Reserve, the Yorkshire Dales National Park would gain important protection for the future.

The night sky in Northumberland National Park. Image: Rebecca Gibson

As a result of its wide open spaces and low light pollution, the Yorkshire Dales National Park is an excellent place to stargaze. As well as constellations, it’s possible to see the Milky Way, planets, meteors and even the aurora borealis over the Dales at night.

It was announced on the 1st July that the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) will be applying for Dark Sky Reserve status by the end of this month. The status, granted by the International Dark Sky Association, would help to promote and protect this important area in the future.

There are currently three national parks with Dark Sky status in England: Northumberland, The South Downs and Exmoor. In its attempts to make the Yorkshire Dales the fourth, the YDNPA has been gathering evidence by recording over 400 light measurements in 290 locations over the past two years. One hundred of these areas meet the necessary requirements for Dark Sky status. An estimated 30% of the National Park would be included in the designated Dark Sky area including Rawthey Valley, Garsdale, Wharfedale and Littondale.

“I would like to thank the National Park Authority volunteers who worked alongside local astronomy groups to support our Dark Sky Reserve application,” says Nick Cotton of the YDNPA. “The dark sky in the National Park has been recognised as one of its special qualities for many years. Now we’ve got the data to back it up.”

Gaining Dark Sky status would be so important for the preservation of the Yorkshire Dales as a site for astronomy. As well as having detrimental effects on nocturnal wildlife, light pollution is also a large waste of energy. By becoming a Dark Sky Reserve and achieving international recognition, the Yorkshire Dales would gain important protection from future light pollution and hopefully see an increase in ecotourism as a result. The Dark Skies Festival – which is hosted across all Dark Sky Reserves in England and attracts both residents and visitors – is helping to raise awareness of dark skies in the UK.

Click here to find out more about the Yorkshire Dales National Park and support their Dark Sky campaign.

Rebecca Gibson is a wildlife writer and photographer. To see more of her work, visit her website.

Yorkshire Dales could become the next Dark Sky Reserve

Light pollution is detrimental to wildlife and people alike. By becoming a Dark Sky Reserve, the Yorkshire Dales National Park would gain important protection for the future.