Cumbria's dark skies allow us to see the natural wonder of the stars, but are also critical for the health wildlife and our own natural well-being. Sadly light pollution in Cumbria is increasing each year, threatening to obscure our view of the stars and blinding and confusing animals so they can’t feed or find a mate. We need urgent action now to stop light pollution. Stargazers, photographers, wildlife lovers and local communities… please help.
Or you can give by text to 70085. Just message DARKSKIES along with your chosen donation amount (eg DARKSKIES 5 to donate £5). Standard message rates apply.
The Lake District and Cumbria offers some of the most spectacular and precious skyscapes in England and we want you to join us on an interstellar adventure. Download our Dark Sky Discovery Pack and get started today!
Save on your electricity costs and do your bit to reduce light pollution! We can all look at our own lighting to see where it’s no longer needed, change the bulbs brightness, lower the angle, add shielding and switch lights off with a timer or sensor Read more
Enjoying our Dark Skies and tackling light pollution are two sides of the same coin. We must not erode the very qualities through activity or developments which adds unnecessary artificial light into our night time environment. The old ‘Golden-goose’ principle! Read more
It’s another classic case of ‘tragedy of the commons’ where we seem incapable of conserving and sustainably managing the earth’s common environments whether on land, the seas or in the air and sky! Read more
Extensive research in 2015 examining 62 local authorities areas where they had instigated street lighting switch offs, part-night lighting, dimming and replacing yellow/orange with white lighting, showed no increases in night-time vehicles accidents. Read more
Many people think lighting will make their neighbourhood or village safer, but is this the case? Read more
Almost 300 people saw stars at our pop up planetarium events at Ambleside and Rheged, as part of Cumbria's first Dark Skies Festival. Although outdoor events suffered from the weather, indoor events were well attended and public enthusiasm for dark skies is undimmed. Read more
We sat down with Nina Ludgate, owner of Beckfoot Retreat B&B to discuss the festival and what is so special about the Ennerdale valley. Read more
Get closer to our solar system and take part in an exciting new interactive pop up planetarium event, part of the first Cumbria Dark Skies Festival (21-23 February), a full programme of events for all the family across the three-day celebration of dark skies. Read more
It’s just two short weeks until the very first Cumbria Dark Skies Festival, 21-23 February 2020 and we’ve been working hard to pull together a full programme of events for all the family across this exciting three-day celebration of dark skies. Read more
Mark Holroyd, of Forestry England on the benefits of Dark Skies for nature, people and the economy. Read more