More Dark Skies Communities for North York Moors

Momentum for Dark Skies Friendly Communities builds as more residents flick the switch in the North York Moors and Howardian Hills

The ease with which people can help fight the scourge of light pollution is leading to a strong groundswell of support as three more Dark Skies Friendly Communities have been created and others are waiting to be accredited across both the North York Moors National Park and Howardian Hills National Landscape. 

Mike Hawtin, the North York Moors National Park’s Head of Nature Recovery Projects and Dark Skies Lead Officer, says that around 2,500 people will soon be living within an accredited Dark Skies Friendly Community, which now includes the village of Husthwaite in the Howardian Hills, and Lastingham and Sleightholme Dale in the North York Moors. 

Dozens more community and individual businesses will shortly become accredited, including Bransdale and the villages of Goathland and Botton, under the Dark Skies Friendly Community scheme which is run jointly by the National Park and the Howardian Hills Partnership.

The schemes are funded by the Howardian Hills Partnership and, in the North York Moors, by Anglo American using section 106 contributions that compensate for the impact of the development within this highly protected landscape.

Speaking ahead of the Dark Skies Fringe Festival, Mr Hawtin explains:

“We’ve been surprised at just how many communities want to become accredited but then it’s a compelling, do-able aspect of conservation.

“Parish councils, residents and businesses realise that whereas solving other pollutant crises can seem overwhelming, altering external lights to become more dark skies friendly is something fairly simple and positive they can do, literally at a flick of a switch. It’s helped by the fact that more people now understand how reducing light pollution can enhance the tranquillity of an area as well as nature, wildlife and human health reaping the benefit too.” 

The latest Dark Skies Friendly Communities join the swelling ranks, which already include Ampleforth Abbey and the villages of Coxwold and Hawnby in the North York Moors, and Bulmer, Crayke and Terrington in the Howardian Hills.  

Ellie Hook, Manager of the Howardian Hills National Landscape, added:

“This scheme has caught the imagination of people across both the National Landscape and the National Park. Light pollution is an issue on both a local and global scale, affecting people and wildlife. Empowering communities to help raise awareness that we can be smarter with our lighting during night-time hours has found an enthusiastic audience. Some of the lighting projects we have supported as part of the scheme look fantastic – just showing what can be done.”

The Dark Skies Friendly Community scheme was introduced in 2024 to recognise the efforts of neighbourhoods to protect and enhance the quality of the night sky.

As part of this push, many lights have been changed to a dark sky-friendly standard. Taken together with individual lighting schemes, over 1,000 fixtures have been replaced across both the National Park and Howardian Hills thanks to their respective dark sky projects.

Under the scheme, communities commit to having a lighting audit carried out and undertake work on a demonstration project, whether it’s simply altering the angle of the beam, replacing fittings to minimise glare, or eliminating redundant fixtures, to ensure at least 60% of lights across the community meet the scheme’s standards. Each community will also hold a minimum of two outreach events a year, which can be as simple as organising a dark skies walk. 

Alongside the community scheme, both protected landscapes are now making dark skies a key consideration within nature conservation and habitat creation projects, such as hedge planting and creating meadows, amid research showing that the abundance of insects and nocturnal pollinators such as moths can be reduced by as much as 50% in brightly lit areas.  

Mike Hawtin adds:

“Our drive to protect the night sky goes far deeper than the fact that it makes the skies simply look beautiful. In fact there are so many compelling reasons that any one of them might strike a chord with people – whether it’s the potential energy savings, the health and wellbeing benefits for nature and humans, or safeguarding the heritage of a place.

“The momentum is being helped by North Yorkshire Council’s own policy to make all street lighting dark skies friendly and, as we’ve said before, this is not about plunging us into complete darkness but looking at how we use lighting effectively and responsibly, so it’s used only where needed, avoiding harsh, scattered beams.”

There are more details about the Dark Skies Friendly Community Scheme at https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/things-to-do/stargazing-and-dark-skies/dark-skies-friendly-community-scheme

The Dark Skies Fringe Festival runs from 24 October to 2 November, with events right across the North York Moors, and Yorkshire Dales National Parks, and the Nidderdale and Howardian Hills National Landscapes. Details can be found at https://www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk/