Dark Skies Cumbria Supporters Although Friends of the Lake District manages the project it’s backed by many different supportive organisations and bodies. Expand Tackling light pollution to save our Dark Skies covers a wide spectrum of issues, such as: Wildlife health and overall ecosystem biodiversity Astronomers and photographers ability to see the stars Saving electricity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions Reducing sky glow in the night sky Strengthening Cumbria’s tourism industry as visitors seek dark sky experiences. Maintaining people’s own health and well-being (sleep patterns and bright light sensitivity) Conserving landscape tranquillity Although Friends of the Lake District manages the project it’s backed by many different supportive organisations and individuals: Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Simon Fell, MP for Barrow and Furness Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border Mark Jenkinson, MP for Workington
Links to More Information Expand https://www.nature.com/articles/nature23288 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190121103411.htm Light Pollution - Buglife - a collection of free resources about how light pollution affects insects.
Aims of the Dark Skies Cumbria Project This isn’t about getting rid of all lighting, just bad wasteful lights. Good lighting can serve a security and safety purpose and make people feel safer out at night. Expand Celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of Dark Skies and inspire individuals communities, businesses and organisations to reduce their own lighting footprint; Prevent more light pollution from insensitive new development and infrastructure; Reduce existing light pollution levels in target locations and pilot communities; Support and promote Dark Sky Reserves across Cumbria; and Work with other Dark Sky Parks, Reserves and other dark sky places across the country to secure effective legislation and guidance to reduce/prevent light pollution. This isn’t about getting rid of all lighting, just bad wasteful lights. Good lighting can serve a security and safety purpose and make people feel safer out at night. But we can make it work so much better for ourselves and the environment. Thoughtful consideration to selection and installation of light fixtures, and use of energy efficient technologies can both reduce our carbon footprint and save money. For a good summary of light pollution issues see CPRE's 2016 report: Night Blight: Mapping England’s light pollution and dark skies. Here are 10 core principles lighting professionals should use to ensure good external lighting: ROLAN-manifesto-White.pdf (arc-magazine.com)
Dark Skies Cumbria Ambassadors We are privileged to have the backing of two wonderful Cumbrian-based Ambassadors promoting our Dark Skies Project. Their passionate statements and support will help drive positive changes to conserve and celebrate our Dark Skies. Expand We are privileged to have the backing of two wonderful Cumbrian-based Ambassadors promoting our Dark Skies Project. Their diverse backgrounds, skills and networks mirror well the many issues linked to the impacts of light pollution on our Dark Skies and wider environment. Their passionate statements and support will help drive positive changes to conserve and celebrate our Dark Skies. Terry Abraham Award-winning and critically acclaimed filmmaker and photographer, Terry has a passion and interest for the outdoors which is second to none. After being made redundant from a lowly IT role, he chased a dream which lead him to producing and directing the BBC hits 'Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike' (2014), 'Life of a Mountain: Blencathra' (2016) and ‘Life of a Mountain Helvellyn (Premier forthcoming). “In my opinion Cumbria is the most beautiful corner of England. I often say the environment shapes us and so it shouldn't come as a surprise millions of people feel inspired, spiritually uplifted and more besides when out and about amongst the fells and dales. I also often point out that the area is just as stunning at night when most are tucked up in bed! Looking up from one heaven to another, seeing the stars and Milky Way is truly humbling. It affords a profound sense of place for us all that is unfortunately all too rare an experience for many people living within urban environments. I'm wholeheartedly supporting the Friend's role in protecting our dark skies and would passionately encourage everyone to play their part in helping to reduce the impacts of light pollution within Cumbria. After all it's just as breath-taking at night as it is during the day.” Amy Bray A young conservationist, who founded environmental charity Another Way in 2019 at 17 (www.another-way.org.uk). She has delivered talks and awareness sessions to thousands of schoolchildren and adults in Cumbria and beyond, inspiring them to make behavioural changes and pledges to protect and enhance our local and global environment. Amy is also Ambassador for DEFRA’s Year of Plant Health 2020, part of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization initiative, with a campaign to raise awareness of how, by protecting plant health, we are protecting the benefits plants provide to all of us, to wildlife, the environment and economy. “I am 100% behind FLD’s Dark Skies project. Reducing light pollution not only protects our amazing star filled skies, but by switching off lights when not needed we cut our consumption of electricity. Individual actions count – together let’s make a difference and be blown away by our night time environment.”
Dark Skies Cumbria Businesses - Local Artists and Writers The landscapes of Cumbria and the Lake District have always inspired artists, poets and writers and they are just as beautiful at night as in the day time. Many have captured the beauty of the night sky and landscape through their work, and we are pleased to share such local talent. Expand Emma Hunt, Artist and Teacher www.emmahunt.artFacebook: www.facebook.com/emmahuntartInstagram: @artistemmahunt Emma is a Cumbrian based artist that paints predominantly pastel landscapes as a way of therapy for mental health and pain management. Art offers a way of escapism from her condition, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. This is a painful disability that affects the collagen in the body. Her expression in art is a constant pursuit of learning. She enjoys teaching these techniques online and in the community. She offers free workshops from her facebook page to encourage everyone to take some mindfulness during these difficult times. Her work and community projects have been featured internationally and received widespread acclaim. Emma is known for painting beautiful dark skies in the lakes and sees a mental health benefit to be able to gaze upon them in the darkest parts of the lakes. Her favourite lake for least light pollution is Ennerdale, just a few miles from her home. Read Emma's blog and see some of her art Philip Laws Philip is a 55 year old self taught artist with a deep love of nature and wildlife. Originally from the northeast of England where he sold his work in galleries the length of the North East Coast, having moved to North West Cumbria thirteen years ago, he now paints in his spare time everything from landscapes, abstract through to scenes of distant galaxy's and nebula. Philip can be contacted at: [email protected] Harriet and Rob Fraser Harriet Fraser (FRGS) has been a writer since 1990 when she wrote the first edition of the Rough Guide to India. Exploring the world, near and far, has always been an attraction, especially if it means spending prolonged periods outside. In the last twenty years Harriet’s writing has been widely published, and she has exhibited prose and poetry across the UK in collaborations with visual artists. Rob has been a professional photographer for over 30 years and moved to Cumbria in 2003 to be closer to the landscape that he loves. He has worked all over the world and his images have been exhibited widely and published in numerous magazines. They live in Cumbria where their writing and images are weaved into a variety of creative and documentary projects, often in partnership. See www.somewhere-nowhere.com for examples of their collaborative work.
Why Do We Need Dark Skies? Dark skies are integral to the tranquillity and people’s enjoyment of the many great landscapes of the Lake District and across Cumbria. Expand Dark skies are not just important for stargazers and astronomers, but also for healthy wildlife populations. Around 60% of animals are nocturnal – following the light of the moon and stars - so light pollution can disrupt their sleeping, feeding and breeding behaviour. A significant amount of insect pollination takes place during the hours of darkness and research has shown how artificial light prevents this essential function.An estimated 85% (possibly higher) of the UK population has never seen the Milky Way due to the rapid rise of light pollution over the last 50 years. Globally, coverage of the earth’s surface in light pollution has been rising at a staggering rate of 2% every year for the last 4 years. (Watch our outdoor lighting slideshow for easy tips for saving our dark skies.) Dark skies are integral to the tranquillity and people’s enjoyment of the many great landscapes of the Lake District and across Cumbria. Seeing a star lit night sky is uplifting and inspiring, and has a lasting impact on positive memorable experiences. Appreciation is growing of these values and the many visitors to Cumbria seek places of peace and quiet, as a contrast to their busy home environments.