Image credit: International Dark Sky Association
“A core aim in creating such a park is to identify and honour protected public lands with exceptional commitment to, and success in implementing, the ideals of dark sky restoration and preservation. Its location is ideally situated for access from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast and northern England meaning that many people, including children, may have access to a quality night sky, both now and in generations to come. Such skies are rapidly disappearing and less than 10% of people in the UK can now see the Milky Way from where they live.” – Martin Morgan-Taylor, UK board member for the International Dark Sky Association
It’s official. Galloway Forest Park in Scotland has achieved the first prestigious Dark Sky Park award from the International Dark Sky Association for the UK. Galloway Forest Park received a dark sky rating of 23 out of 24, placing it within the gold tier Dark Sky Park award status – the highest honours possible. In comparison, Glasgow and Edinburgh score roughly a 15 or 16 on the scale. Located in southwestern Scotland, Galloway Forest Park hosts around 850,000 tourists each year. Tourist officials predict the amount of tourists to at least double next year.
It’s good to see another dark sky preserve internationally recognized for their commitment against light pollution. Perhaps as more bastions against light pollution are created, the public will notice a void in their lives – the night sky. The disheartening truth about light pollution lies not in this generation, but in the next. Many children within cities will grow up without knowing what the Milky Way Galaxy looks like in all its glory, unless they travel to IDA approved dark sky preserves. Should the night sky be reduced to these exclusive dark sky preserves? Absolutely not. Contact your local legislature. ‘Contact your state legislature. Contact your president or prime minister. Inform them of how important the night sky is to you.
