A large area of Northumberland has been named as home to the largest area of protected night sky in Europe.
The International Dark Skies Association (IDA), based in Tucson, USA, has granted Gold Tier Dark Sky Park status to the combined areas of Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water and Forest Park which cover nearly 1,500 square kilometres of countryside between Hadrian’s Wall and the Scottish border.
The new zone – which will be called the Northumberland Dark Sky Park (NDSP) – is the first of its kind in England and one of the largest in the world.
Working with councils, residents, businesses and tourism agencies, the two-year campaign to achieve the prestigious status has been spearheaded by Northumberland National Park Authority, Kielder Water and Forest Park Development Trust and Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society.
Crucially, it will protect the rural character of an area deemed the country’s darkest and most tranquil by the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
Elisabeth Rowark, chair of the Northumberland Dark Skies Working Group and director of the Kielder Water and Forest Park Development Trust, said: ‘This designation as Europe’s largest Dark Sky Park will be a springboard allowing us to do even more.
‘We do not want to turn off the lights, but rather encourage better lighting using the latest technology. This is the start of a new chapter for Northumberland where quite literally the sky is the limit.’
Read the International Dark Skies Association press release at: LINK
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