Galloway Forest Park has been singled out as the first Dark Sky Park in the UK, a prestigious award conferred on it by the International Dark Sky Association.
It has won its new status following work involving Forestry Commission Scotland, the Wigtownshire Astronomical Society, lighting experts and the surrounding community to ensure
Galloway’s skies remain pitch black, providing the best condition for viewing distant galaxies.
Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said: “Understandably, all those involved in this innovative project are over the moon and I’m thrilled for them and for Scotland.
“The interest in this initiative has been worldwide. The award is great news for putting Galloway Forest Park firmly in the spotlight and for attracting more tourists to the area.” The award marks the
culmination of efforts to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy 2009.
Work on achieving the park’s recognition began in September last year, with a formal application being submitted to the IDA six weeks ago.
The final awards were decided at the association’s AGM in Phoenix, Arizona, over the weekend.
Martin Morgan-Taylor, UK board member for the International Dark Sky Association, said: “Galloway Forest Park is a fantastic asset in the now international network of Dark Sky Parks. 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.
“Galloway has shown exceptional commitment here in the UK and the team deserves the highest commendation and recognition.
“The park 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 fewer than 10% of people in the UK can now see the Milky Way from where they live.”
Part of the selection process involved giving a rating via a sky quality meter, which measures the darkness of the sky overhead.
The higher the reading the better, with the darkest rating of 24 to be found in an environment such as a photographer’s dark room.
In major cities such as Glasgow or Edinburgh, the likely reading would be around 15 or 16. Galloway Forest Park was rated at 23, giving it gold tier Dark Sky Park award status – the highest achievable Keith Muir, Forestry
Commission Scotland’s head of tourism and recreation in Galloway, said: “We have boldly gone where no one in the UK has gone before.
“I’m so pleased that everyone’s support and hard work has paid off. The award is a massive feather in Galloway’s cap.
“Tourism is the single largest economic development opportunity for south west Scotland.“Currently, the Galloway Forest Park welcomes around 850,000 visitors each year and we have big plans to double this over time. This award, the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, should be seen as a universal achievement.”
Until now, there have been only three Dark Sky Parks in the world, all in the United States. They are the Natural
Bridges National Monument in Utah, the Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania and the Geauga Park in Ohio.
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