Starry Wins – More Villages Join the Dark Skies Friendly Communities

The night in Yorkshire has grown a little deeper, a little richer with stars. Across our rolling dales and peaceful valleys, more communities are stepping into the darkness not in sorrow, but in celebration of the lights above.

In recent months, the Dark Skies Friendly Community scheme led by North York Moors National Park Authority and the Howardian Hills Partnership has seen new villages join its ranks, pledging to shield the night sky from wasteful light and to invite in the stars.

Take the pretty little village of Hawnby in the heart of the moors: the first in England to convert more than a hundred external lights to an approved dark‑sky friendly standard. North York Moors National Park+1

And most recently, villages such as Husthwaite, Lastingham and Sleightholme Dale have gained accreditation, bringing the total number of people benefiting from darker skies to around 2,500. goodnewspost.co.uk+1

What does being “Dark Skies Friendly” actually mean? For a village, it means:

• Undertaking a lighting audit and converting at least 60 % of external lighting to dark‑sky compliant standards.

• yorkshirebylines.co.uk+1

• Holding outreach events—such as stargazing walks or community talks—at least twice a year.

• North York Moors National Park+1

This movement brings wonders for nature, community and simply the pleasure of looking up. Studies show insects, bats and nocturnal creatures flourish when light pollution is low. Residents find the skies above reveal the Milky Way’s river of stars; neighbours meet in the dark for walks under constellations; children gasp at planets and meteor streaks with fresh eyes.

As one local project lead put it: “It’s something fairly simple and positive we can do — literally at the flick of a switch.”

goodnewspost.co.uk

So in this issue of White Rose Whispers we celebrate these quiet victories of darkness: not emptiness, but richness. Not absence, but presence—the presence of age‑old skies, of neighbours gathered in lantern glow, of a community looking upward together.

Let the stars remind us both how small and how connected we are.

Which Yorkshire village was the first in England to convert over 100 external lights to dark‑sky compliant lighting under the Dark Skies Friendly scheme?
Answer at the bottom!

Embrace the night: 4 simple ways to reconnect under the stars

• Timing matters: Choose a clear evening (check the forecast) and aim for at least 20 minutes of star‑gazing—allowing your eyes to adjust to the dark.

• Minimise screen time: Before heading out, switch off bright indoor screens / lights so your eyes aren’t dazzled by blue‑rich light. Look for towns or villages in dark‑sky friendly schemes—they’re already doing it.

• Bring the comfort: A warm blanket or jacket, a thermos of tea, and a quiet spot seated low to the ground make all the difference to enjoying the moment.

• Connect with community: Check local village notices or park authority listings for outreach events (like dark skies walks). Sharing under the stars is richer than solo‑staring.

• Reflect and release: Use this time as a way to let go of daytime worries. Simply look up, breathe quietly, and imagine how small our troubles are beneath the vastness of the sky.

"In times of darkness, let the light within you shine brightest. Embrace the challenges ahead with unwavering courage, for within every trial lies an opportunity for growth and transformation. May your heart be filled with compassion and your spirit be guided by wisdom, for it is through kindness and understanding that lasting change is born. Let your actions speak volumes, leaving a trail of inspiration in your wake. Forge ahead with determination, knowing that the journey towards a better tomorrow begins with the choices you make today."

When we turn off the floodlights, we don’t lose brightness—we gain the stars.

The village was Hawnby