Dark Skies Cumbria

Saving Our Night Skies

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!

The Greatest Show on Earth… for free!

Autumn has crept up on us and nights are drawing in. Yet getting outside is even more crucial for our mental well-being in these anxious times. A rise in interest in night time photography – astrophotography – using digital cameras and affordable telescopes is a great excuse to venture out. My good friend Al sent me this wonderful image of the Andromeda Galaxy he took just from his back garden in Staveley (10 September).

He’s new into astrophotography, learning loads, inspired by the elation and buzz of capturing truly amazing shots of planets and stars billions of miles away. These long exposure time pictures reveal coloration and clarity that the naked eye is unable to. Protecting our dark skies around Cumbria allows people like Al to have this opportunity and to share it with his family and friends – a free display on your doorstep!

Ian Bradley, the Chair of the Eddington Astronomical Society, shared his passion and knowledge with us to give us some top tips in a blog recently.(1) The three Astronomical Societies in Cumbria have great enthusiasts welcoming new people to join them. Do take a look at their websites for further information.(2)

It’s not just Cumbrian residents who can really enjoy our dark sky star laden evenings, but visitors seeking out beautiful places to rest, relax and refresh. We really feel for all the tourism businesses in this unbelievably challenging moment for them. Together we must celebrate Cumbria’s Dark Skies as a vital attraction for people to come and visit safely over the coming autumn and winter months.

Friends of the Lake District’s 2020 photo competition included many amazing night sky images taken by highly skilled amateur photographers. Two of the winning shots are featured in their Xmas Cards and 2021 Calendar. Stunning images, good value and contributing funds towards vital project, land management and policy work for the landscape and dark skies cause in the Lakes and wider Cumbria.(3)

(1). See https://www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/news/photographing-the-night-sky

(2). Websites: Eddington (South Lakes) www.eas-online.org.uk Border (North & East Cumbria): http://www.p3publications.com/starter.htm Cockermouth (North West Cumbria): https://www.cockermouthastronomy.co.uk/

(3). https://www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/shop

Photo above of Andromeda by Alasdair Muir.

Latest

Wednesday 15th May 2024: Hows Wood, Woodland and Walling Work

Join our workparty for woodland work at Hows Wood, Eskdale. Tree staking, path clearance, branch lopping and coppicing, walling if needed.
Wednesday 8th May 2024: Mike's Wood, Woodland Work

Join our workparty for coppicing and walling at Mike's Wood near Staveley
Tuesday 30th April 2024: High Borrowdale Tree Maintenance and Walling

Join our workparty for tree maintenance and walling in High Borrowdale.
Leaders' Landscape Training: Life of the hill bred Fell Pony

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Lighting the Way - Sedbergh Parish Installs Dark Sky Friendly Lights

Twenty-two new environmentally and dark sky friendly lights are benefitting nature and people in the town of Sedbergh.
Dark Skies Room Brochure

We've created a new 2024 'Dark Skies room brochure' for hotel and B&B guests to encourage them to step outside, look up and be wowed by how many stars they can see.
Cumbria Star Count 2024

To celebrate our starry skies and help protect and improve our view of the stars, we're inviting residents and visitors in Cumbria to be ‘citizen scientists’ and take part in a Cumbria Star Count 2024 – a cosmic census that will help map our view of the stars and the impact of light pollution.
Good Lighting Guide for Cumbria wins National Awards

Our good lighting guide produced jointly with a lighting designer launches and has already won two national awards! Providing technical lighting guidance to planners, it will also help anyone installing or replacing lighting to make good lighting choices.
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A talk to the Institution for Lighting Professionals' Annual Summit. Our Dark Skies Officer shares fresh approaches to tackling light pollution, planning guidance, monitoring, and inspiring communities to take action.
If you go down to the Woods tonight…

A magical Dark Skies Night Walk in Holme Wood with talk, poetry, sounds and silence, light and darkness, and songs.
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Dark Sky Lighting at Rookhow Quaker Meeting House and Bunkbarn

Rookhow, an 18th Century Grade II listed Quaker Meeting House in the Rusland valley, contacted the Dark Skies Cumbria Project seeking help to choose sympathetic external lighting.
Kendal Households Install Dark Sky Friendly Lights

More Kendal residents, inspired by the growing awareness of the impacts of light pollution, have replaced their outdoor lighting with dark skies friendly lighting.
Star Count 23: Public survey leads to calls to control light pollution

The results of this year’s Star Count, released today by CPRE, reveals light pollution blocks three-quarters of UK residents view of the night sky, with only five percent of people enjoying the wonder of a truly dark starry sky.

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High Borrowdale

High Borrowdale is situated 8.5 miles north of Kendal. The best way to access it is from the A6, south of Shap. There is open access at all times. Take a VIRTUAL TOUR