Hawnby in North Yorkshire is dimming streetlights to provide a better view of the Milky Way 

An unassuming village in North Yorkshire could soon become a hot spot for stargazers as it will dim all streetlights to give a better view of the night sky.

North York Moors National Park officials have announced a project to make Hawnby, near Helmsley, England’s first ‘Dark Skies’ village.

This means that all street lights and exterior lights are dimmed to reduce light pollution and allow a better view of the Milky Way.

These include lighting on individual properties and public areas such as the village hall and local pub.

They are only lowered to the threshold of being ‘dark sky friendly’, and will still provide the necessary illumination for safety or visibility purposes.

Mike Hawtin, the Dark Skies Officer of the North York Moors National Park explains: ‘A recent study concluded that people worldwide are now seeing fewer stars with the naked eye due to skyglow caused by artificial light.

‘We want to show how relatively easy it can be for communities to take a similar approach to the one in Hawnby and help us protect the pristine qualities of our dark sky.

“There are a few other places in Wales and Scotland that have converted street lighting into dark sky friendly towns or villages, but we think Hawnby will be the first village to go even further by converting both street lighting and outdoor lighting when the project is later completed this year.

“We’re definitely not against light because it’s needed for many different reasons, whether it’s unlocking your front door or operating machinery at night.

“The steps required to avoid light pollution can be as simple as changing the angle of a floodlight to ensure no rays are wasted by throwing a harsh glare into an otherwise dark valley.”

Jointly run by the National Park and landowner Mexborough Estates, the project will convert more than 100 lights on 30 properties into dark sky-friendly alternatives.

Artificial light that is excessive, intrusive and ultimately wasteful is called light pollution and directly affects how bright our night sky looks.

With over nine million streetlights and 27 million offices, factories, warehouses and homes across the UK, the amount of light we throw into the sky is staggering.

As some of the light escapes into space, the rest is scattered by molecules in the atmosphere, creating a glow that makes it difficult to see the stars against the night sky.

The Hawnby project, which is halfway through, will enable locals and visitors to get a clearer view of the Milky Way, which appears to us as a hazy band of stars.

Stargazers may also be able to see other planets and meteors with the naked eye, as well as the occasional Northern Lights.

Last month, ‘aurora borealis’ was visible across the UK as far south as Cornwall, thanks to a particularly strong burst of charged particles from the sun.

Some of the lights in Hawnby are getting special LED lights that prevent upward light and emit a softer, warmer color that is less likely to affect nocturnal animals.

Research has shown that light pollution negatively affects our ‘circadian rhythm’ – the body’s internal clock – which has been linked to depression, weight problems and even cancer.

It’s also impacting wildlife, leading some experts to a “bug apocalypse.”

For example, lighting fixtures can kill moths and beetles and make other insects more easily spotted by predators.

They can also disrupt the sleeping patterns of magpies and pigeons and the ‘moon compass’ of marine life.

The North York Moors say the ‘Dark Skies’ initiative will reduce energy consumption and bills, as well as the village’s carbon footprint.

Jamie Savile, owner of Mexborough Estates, said: ‘Hawnby is a small traditional moorland village blessed with wide and far reaching open skies over the surrounding hills and moors.

“With hospitality and accommodation nearby, we hope the village can offer a new, cozy style of nighttime astrotourism in a spectacular setting, both day and night.”

The North York Moors National Park is one of 21 locations in the world designated by the International Dark-Sky Association as an International Dark Sky Reserve.

Others include Snowdonia, Exmoor and Brecon Beacons National Parks, Kerry in Ireland and Greater Big Bend in the US and Mexico.

To be approved, areas must have low-light meter readings and at least 67 percent of their properties must be equipped with dark sky-friendly lighting.

These are fixtures that serve a necessary purpose, illuminate only the desired area, are connected to a timer or motion sensor, are not too bright for the purpose, and are warm in color.

The application to become an international dark sky reserve must also be supported by at least 80 percent of the area and population must be approved.

After a five-year review process, the North York Moors achieved status in December 2020, as did the Yorkshire Dales.

There, four prominent businesses – including a pub near Ribblehead viaduct and The Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes – have received grants to have their outdoor lighting darken skies.

The pub, The Station Inn, has already installed 19 directional, strategically placed outdoor LED lights, which help to reduce glare and brighten the night sky.

Publican Claire Hobbs said: ‘We are delighted with the very positive difference to our business that the International Dark Sky Reserve designation has made.

‘Working with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and the Dark Skies initiative, we have not only received support to make the inn ‘Dark Sky friendly’, with changes to our outdoor lighting, but we have also received support in of promotions and access to astronomers.

‘We now regularly organize stargazing nights and unbelievably, every night is sold out whether it’s midweek or weekend events. This provides much-needed trade in the always difficult low season.’