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Dark skies

Starry skies are one of the most magical sights the countryside can offer.

Enjoying a view of the night sky with many stars is becoming rarer with increasing light pollution from poorly designed lighting. We are pressing for planning guidance to control lighting.

Light pollution not only limits our views of these skies, but also disrupts wildlife’s natural patterns. We want to reclaim our dark skies.

North Yorkshire County Council announced it would reduce the number of unnecessary street lights. Every journey begins with a small step and we welcome this announcement. CPRE Craven, an active district of North Yorkshire, have campaigned hard to ensure our night skies are unpolluted.

Starry skies are one of the most magical sights the countryside can offer. Light pollution not only limits our views of these skies, but also disrupts wildlife’s natural patterns. We want to reclaim our dark skies.

We run an annual star count, helping us to see where light pollution is a problem and where the darkest skies are. We use this evidence to advocate for better-controlled lighting, and we offer advice about what we can all do to reduce local light pollution.

Four people stargazing silhouetted against the milky way

Look for dark skies near you

We’ve gathered data about light levels across the country and created interactive maps showing places where you can enjoy truly dark skies. The maps are also a great way to explore light pollution near you, so that you can take action locally.

Explore the Night Blight Maps