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.
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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!
Rearranged from February, Keswick's Big Switch Off is now scheduled for 23 April from 8pm, when street lights will go off, and residents are businesses are encouraged to join in switching lights off for a night, to save energy and see more stars. Read more
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. Read more
A star filled night sky gives us a free display of arguably the most important natural wonder humans experience. That’s why we are passionate to protect Cumbria’s Dark Sky environment for everyone and future generations. Light pollution is growing at 2% each year, and new research suggests it could be as much as 10%.
The benefits of darkness are well documented, increasing human wellbeing and supporting ecological systems to thrive. Scientists warn that pollution caused by excessive lighting is altering the night cycle of people, animals and plants and preventing the sky observation. We need to take immediate action.
To highlight our dark skies and the impacts of lighting we’re running our ‘Big Switch Off’ event again, this year in Keswick on Tuesday 23rd April 2024, from 8pm onwards. Following the success of three previous events, street lights will be turned off and businesses and residents are encouraged to take part turning their own lights off. Thank you to all of our partners in helping to make this event a success.