AONB CASE STUDY
Landscapes for People
Project title
AONB Partnership/Conservation
Board
Overview
Please summarise your project
being clear about what was
achieved
What was done
Please describe your project
activities in more detail.
Dark Skies
North Pennines AONB
In 2012 the North Pennines AONB Partnership started researching the possibility of
getting locations in the North Pennines designated as official Dark Sky Discovery
Sites (DSDS). For many years, our neighbours at Northumberland National Park and
Kielder Water and Forest Park have increased their reputation as two of the best
places in the UK for stargazing. We recognised that the North Pennines has dark
night skies of a similar quality and greater recognition and promotion of this could
benefit the visitor economy. Using our conservation trainees, who were funded via
an HLF apprenticeship scheme, and working alongside Durham University and local
astronomy groups, the AONB Partnership undertook dark sky quality monitoring to
establish the darkest easily accessible places within our boundary. Once the
research was concluded, applications for DSDS designation were made for five sites
and in July 2013 the designation was made official.
 In July 2013, five locations in the North Pennines were officially recognised as
being among the best places in the UK to watch the night skies.
 Our Dark Skies programme was financially supported from a Defra-funded
collaboration between Protected Landscapes in the North East, Northern Lands,
which financed various visitor economy-focused initiatives throughout the
region.
 Since 2013, the five DSDS have now grown to 16 across all three counties of the
North Pennines AONB: Cumbria, Northumberland and County Durham.
 We worked closely with accommodation providers to help them understand the
benefits of Dark Sky Tourism by holding workshops and seminars.
 We produced marketing materials including a handy pocket-size Stargazing
Guide and a leaflet with a map and basic, but valuable, information.
 We issued press releases and invited press to events.
 In 2014/2015 we carried out a dark sky quality survey of the North Pennines
with the help of volunteers. It actually showed the area is dark enough to secure
Dark Sky Reserve Status (a globally-recognised designation).
 With funding from The Science and Technologies Facilities Council (through its
Public Engagement Award) we are continuing to host astronomy events
throughout the North Pennines. During the 2015/2016 season all events were
sold out.
 We commissioned a photographer (via other partners in the Northern Lands
scheme) to take professional shots of the night skies in the North Pennines.
 Through our Allen Valleys Landscape Partnership Scheme, the North Pennines
AONB Partnership has created a ‘community observatory’. To create the design
of the observatory, we ran a competition for architecture students from local
universities. Working with a leading firm of Newcastle-based architects, we have
turned the winning submission into reality.
 We designed ‘Starboxes’ which schools and community groups can hire (for
free) to help them learn about the dark skies of the North Pennines.
 We invested money in interpretation, way markers and stargazing accessories
such as laser pointers, star spotting guides, red lights and Stellarscopes.
Outputs/Outcomes
Please provide some facts and
figures, (particularly ones that
could be collated with those from
other AONBs e.g. no of schools
engaged, no of events delivered,
landowners advised etc)
Learning
What was key to your project’s
success?
Further information
Downloads, videos, images
(please add links or attach
documents/2-3 images for use on
website & wider promotion).
Quote from project manager
Quote from participant
Key search words
 A recent report by the CPRE, entitled Night Blight, has found:
 86 per cent of the North Pennines skies are pristine
 The North Pennines is the darkest AONB on mainland England (only the
Scilly Isles are darker)
 The North Pennines is darker than all but two of the English National Parks
 40 per cent of all AONBs are in the darkest category
 A community observatory is being built in the North Pennines this autumn
 Tourism providers can use the DSDS as an additional pull for potential visitors
 Volunteers have been trained in dark sky quality monitoring
 Strong links have been forged with regional universities, astronomy groups etc.
 We are working with partners to further develop a new audience of visitors to
the North Pennines
 The North Pennines has more Dark Sky Discovery Sites than any other
destination in the UK
 A four-year programme of Dark Sky events that has been funded through the
Science and Technology Council
 We are considering an application for Dark Sky Reserve status for the North
Pennines
 Partnership working with landowners, astronomy groups and community
organisation
 Relationship with volunteers who have turned out in all weathers to help us
monitor the darkness of our night skies
 Good relationships with regional media who have been key in promoting our
work and events
 Securing new and additional funding was essential to enable a programme of
public events to back up the designation of sites and help to give the project
more tangible outcomes.
Shane Harris North Pennines AONB Partnership [email protected]
01388 528801
http://www.northpennines.org.uk/Pages/DarkSkyDiscoverySites.aspx
http://www.northpennines.org.uk/Pages/Whatcanyouseeinadarksky.aspx
http://www.northpennines.org.uk/Pages/Stargazing.aspx
http://www.explorenorthpennines.org.uk/recreation-opportunity/stargazing
One of our primary special qualities is our dark night skies. This area of work has
been all about widening their appeal to a diverse range of audiences to support the
visitor economy
“We had a great time – the kids loved it. We all felt very welcome in the group,
especially as the leaders took the time and effort to explain about their telescopes
and what we could see.”
North Pennines, stargazing, Dark Skies, Dark Sky Discovery Sites