We are so fortunate to live within the North York Moors International Dark Sky Reserve. Our night skies benefit nature and have their own beauty and wonder. It is vital, however, that we pledge to protect them from further light pollution and part of this is appropriate street lighting.
Towards a Dark Skies Friendly Community
North Yorkshire Council have been working with the Goathland Parish Council and the Goathland Dark Skies Friendly Community Group to review the street lighting in the village. As a result, North Yorkshire Council, with their streetlighting rationalisation programme, have replaced the streetlights in the village so that the lighting is more consistent in quality and brightness. We feel this has made it more aesthetically pleasing for our village and definitely more ‘dark sky’ friendly.
The lighting work started in February, with many of the old lamp posts needing to be replaced as they couldn’t be repaired any further. New posts and lanterns were installed with a uniform, lower Kelvin, colour and uniform brightness of bulbs. The proposal was that most lights would go off at midnight and come on again at 5:00 am. This would greatly enhance the environment for nocturnal wildlife and would support the drive to Goathland becoming an accredited Dark Skies Friendly Community. Currently however only three of the lights actually do this. Further discussion at the Parish Meeting is needed to agree any extension of this light pattern.
A Dark Sky Village
Many businesses in the village have already improved their external lighting and others are planning to do so with support from North York Moors National Park. The aim is to seek formal accreditation for Goathland to become recognised as a Dark Skies Friendly Community. Everybody within the village can also contribute to this by considering their own external lighting. There is a guide below to help.
The Five Principles of Improved Lighting
Advice to help choose and purchase the most appropriate lighting to both enhance your property, benefit our wildlife and protect our dark sky within the International Dark Sky Reserve.
With any installation, domestic or otherwise, the following best practice principles will help to ensure any improved lighting reduces light pollution and its impact on our dark skies:
- USEFUL – Use light only if it is needed. Any light should be justified with a clear purpose and benefit.
- TARGETED – Direct light so it falls only where it is needed. Zero upward light is essential.
- LOW LEVEL – Light should be no brighter than necessary.
- CONTROLLED – Use light only when it is needed. Turn off with manual switches, timers or proximity (PIR) sensors.
- WARM COLOURED – Use warmer coloured lights. Lamps should be 3000K or less.
If you would like any advice on a more appropriate outside lighting for your property please contact us.