A patch of Northumberland’s night sky has become the largest area of protected sky in Europe.
Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water and Forest Park have been granted dark-sky status by The International Dark Skies Association.
The status means the night sky is protected and lighting controls are in place to prevent light pollution.
Steve Owens, dark skies consultant and chair of the IDA’s development committee, said: “The quality of Northumberland’s night sky, and the huge efforts made by local communities to preserve them, make Northumberland Dark Sky Park a gold tier site, and one of the best places to stargaze in Europe.”
Elisabeth Rowark, director of the park’s trust, said: “We have worked so hard together to reach this tremendous day for everyone committed to securing protection for England’s largest area of starry skies.
“We do not want to turn off the lights, but rather encourage better lighting using the latest technology. This is the start of a new chapter for Northumberland where quite literally the sky is the limit.
This video will give you some idea as to the fantastic things you can expect from our beautiful night skies.
Let Advanced Taxis assist you with your journey into space and book a taxi to take you deep into the heart of England’s largest area of protected dark skies.