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!

  • About the Project

    Dark skies are integral to the tranquility and people’s enjoyment of the many great landscapes of the Lake District and across Cumbria. Read more

  • What's On

    Dark Skies Cumbria project events and activities. We're busy planning our 2021 Dark Skies Festival. We'll be publishing more information as plans come together later this year. Read more

  • Stargazing Tips

    We believe that the Lake District offers some of the most spectacular and precious skyscapes in England and we want you to join us on an interstellar adventure. We're publishing tips and guides to help you make the most of our starry skies! Read more

  • Dark Skies Cumbria Ambassadors

    We are privileged to have the backing of three 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. Read more

Project News

  • What a Waste – The Bottom-Line

    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

  • Importance of Dark Skies to Tourism

    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

  • Powers to limit light pollution

    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

  • Road Lighting and Vehicle Accidents

    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