THE South Downs National Park’s Dark Sky Festival is returning with a line-up of events over the February half-term.
Nine days of celebrations will explore the wonders of the dark skies of the national park, which remains one of only 21 International Dark Sky Reserves in the world.
Among the events will be a dark skies-themed ride at 450ft on Brighton’s i360, self-guided walks through the solar system at Queen Elizabeth and Seven Sisters Country Parks, seafront star parties, night-time walks, nocturnal wildlife, celestial storytelling and planetarium shows.
Night-time photography of the South Downs will be shared online during the festival, alongside downloadable colouring sheets and cosmic crafts.
The theme of this year’s event is “Take Action for Nature and Climate” and people will be able to find out more about nocturnal wildlife and learn how to build their very own bat box.
“Dark Skies” Dan Oakley, the dark skies expert for the National Park, said: “We’re pleased to be back for our eighth Dark Skies Festival with more in-person events than ever.
“There’s something for everyone this year, whether you want to get hands-on and see some stunning constellations through a telescope, or you want to connect with nature at night on a tranquil walk.
“The fact we have this precious Dark Sky reserve in the heart of the South East is amazing, given the proximity to London and the cities of the south coast. We have some incredibly dark patches that allow you to see so much of the universe with just the naked eye and it’s an experience we want everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy.
“The South Downs landscape is incredible enough, but look up, and there’s another dimension to explore. It’s an opportunity to connect with nature on its biggest scale – the universe itself.
“The importance of dark skies for wildlife cannot be overstated. Mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects all rely on the natural rhythms of daylight and darkness and protecting our dark skies will be vital if we’re to restore biodiversity in the National Park.”
A full programme of events can be found by visiting the South Downs National Park website. Booking may be required, and all events are weather-dependent.
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