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!

Cumbrian Communities Lighting Audits

Working with five different sized communities across Cumbria, (Kendal and Oxenholme and the parishes of Buttermere, Lorton, Loweswater and Patterdale) we commissioned lighting designers Cundalls to carry out town and village lighting audits to assess light pollution levels and identify the most significant sources of light pollution. Their report identified nearly 100 light pollution hotspots. With the input of the relevant town and parish councils, we will work with businesses and other bodies to help to tackle these problems.

Read the report here: Cundalls LAAP FINAL Report (pdf)

Lighting audits are usually only carried out for specific, usually large new developments and for Dark Sky Reserve areas. We want this new ‘whole-community’ approach to be adopted as standard practice to start to drive a reversal of growing light pollution levels (49% increase globally over the last 25 years). They will provide essential baseline data to inform Local and Neighbourhood Plans, Climate and Biodiversity Actions plans and planning decision-making.

With thanks to Kendal Civic Society and Kendal Town Council for their financial contributions.

Latest

Poster Competition

Friends of the Lake District is 90 years old! To celebrate our birthday, we want to develop a vision for Cumbria’s landscapes for the next 90 years and we're asking children and young people to help us by designing a poster to show how they want the landscape to look.
17 April 2024: Clean stones and corners at Mazonwath

It was the first dry day in months for the workparty at Mazonwath, which meant there was plenty of work to be done on the dry stone walls.
Postcard From the Lakes: April 2024

Our Elterwater protest rally made print, TV and radio news headlines. Thanks to everyone who came along. Thank you also to our amazing volunteers, recycling tree tubes at Gillside and Rusland woods, and took part in our Great Cumbrian Litter Pick.
Cumbria & Lakeland Walker Magazine

3-issue subscription to Cumbria and Lakeland Walker magazine for only £1.00

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.
Good Lighting Approaches for Dark Skies

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.
New Dark Skies and Wildlife Sensitive lighting across Eden Bridge, Carlisle

Cumberland Council in partnership with lighting company DW Windsor has installed dark skies and wildlife sensitive lighting across the busiest road crossing the river Eden in Carlisle.
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.
Cundall’s LAAP Final Report

Working with five different sized communities across Cumbria, we commissioned Cundall’s to carry out Town-Village lighting audits to assess light pollution levels and identify the most significant sources of light pollution.
Protecting Cumbria’s dark skies: new Dark Skies and wildlife friendly street lighting

We are working with the County Council and Thorn Lighting to install new Dark Skies and wildlife friendly road lighting across Cumbria. A short film featuring some of the work so far.
Dark Skies and wildlife friendly road lights for Lorton

Five Dark Skies and wildlife friendly road lights have been installed in Lorton, in the north west of the Lake District National Park as part of a new pilot scheme.
Chorlton Craftivists' Blinded by the Light art trail

‘Craftivist’ Danielle helped inspire an outdoor art trail to raise awareness about light pollution during Chorlton Arts Festival in September. She produced a beautifully illustrated and fact-packed light pollution awareness handbook ‘Blinded by the Light’
Dark Sky compliant lighting products

Examples of 'good practice'

Volunteering

Learn new skills and join our army of volunteers helping us to make a practical difference to the Lake District all year round.
Join Today

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Our Purpose

We are an independent charity and the only membership organisation dedicated to protecting and enhancing Cumbria's landscapes for future generations
Elterwater Quarry Adventure Attraction plans resubmitted

Just before Christmas, revised proposals were submitted for a visitor attraction at Elterwater Quarry. We have reviewed the plans, we remain opposed to the scheme, and you can read our formal response here.
The Helm

Situated near Oxenholme, just south east of Kendal, and although not a very high hill at 185m, it gives beautiful views.
It's Time To Save Roanhead - Response Guidance

A NEW planning application has been submitted for the major resort development proposed at Roanhead. It will still have a huge impact on this sensitive coastline, even with a reduced number of lodges. Please join us again to challenge the proposal. Previous responses won't count and new responses need to reflect latest plans.
Aerial Flight at Honister Slate Mine

We received the disappointing news that the Secretary of State will not ‘call in’ the proposed zip-wires at Honister and so the Authority’s approval stands. The Secretary of State is no longer required to give reasons for his decision.
Why become a member?

Love the Lake District? Become a member of Friends of the Lake District and join thousands of people enjoying and protecting it.
What are the disadvantages of being in a National Park?
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