Organisers have hailed the success of the Cumbria Dark Skies festival.
Several hundred people attended activities and events spread all across the county, from Parton and Ennerdale Bridge in the west, to Coniston, Glenridding, Grizedale and Whinlatter in the Lake District National Park.
A diverse lineup of events from November 5 to 14 entertained the young and old, local residents and staying visitors alike.
Enjoyment of the dark environment and wildlife in woodlands and forests was popular, with events at Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s reserves at Arnside and Staveley, Forest England’s Grizedale and Whinlatter forests, and a Loweswater walk for the Melbreak Community dark skies group, led by Friends of the Lake District Patron John Macfarlane and National Trust Ranger Mark Astley.
Festival participants also enjoyed canoeing in the dark, wood whittling and stargazing, and dark skies art workshops.
More unusual events included a temporary art installation ‘Intrastellar’ (meaning ‘within the stars’) at Grizedale Forest tarn, a floating artwork of sensitively illuminated spheres on the mirrored surface of the tarn, forming a spectacular interaction with the stars, which 100 people attended on the day, and a nighttime rock pooling event, using UV light in rockpools on the beach to see the active night-time creatures, such as luminescent prawns, starfish, sea urchins and velvet swimming crabs.
The night rock pooling event was so popular that Cumbria Wildlife Trust is planning to hold it again in December, and the Moonwatch with the Eddington Astronomical Society, the only event cancelled due to cloud cover, will be postponed until early January.
Wildlife themed nighttime events were a real hit with many people, with all of the ‘walking in the woods in the dark’ events selling out. Participants were fascinated to hear tawny owls in the woods and see Daubenton’s bats (‘water bats’) skimming and looping over Loweswater.
Some of the positive feedback from Dark Skies festival event participants last week:
“What a beautiful evening last night – stars, owls, hot chocolate, cakes, poetry, music, a super walk and even a black cap [warbler]! Thank you both very, very much.” (Holme Wood Walk, Loweswater)
“Instrastellar by Steve Messam…..truly awesome, inspiring, hynoptic, peaceful, beautiful, ever-changing light as it got dark, reflections, breeze, movement, stunning.” (Intrastellar display on Grizedale Tarn, Grizedale Forest).
Andrea Simpson, of Cumbria Wildlife Trust said: “Our eyesight is poor in darkness compared to the many species of wildlife active at night. Enjoying the nighttime environment involves an element of awe and respect for these creatures of the night.
“Fortunately many of our nature reserves are intrinsically dark places where wildlife is unaffected by light pollution, so what better places to explore with friends and family.”
Plans are underway for the next Cumbria Dark Skies festival which will be from February 12 to February 26 2022, combining online talks and outdoor activities, and a community lights switch off.
The Dark Skies Cumbria festival is a partnership of Friends of the Lake District, Cumbria Tourism, Forestry England, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, and the Lake District National Park.
