Latest news with #DarkSkiesFestival
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
Discover beautiful Forest of Bowland with newly launched free guide
A GUIDE for anyone wanting to make the most of their time in Bowland has received its official launch. Discover Bowland - put together by The Forest of Bowland National Landscape - was launched on February 26 in Gazegill at at an event attended by more than 50 members of the Bowland Sustainable Tourism Business network and partner organisations. The pocket-friendly guide, which is also available online, is an essential source of information for people on foot or on bike. Thoughtfully put together routes encourage people to 'slow down, embrace nature's gentle rhythms and uncover Bowland's hidden gems'. Festival Bowland got underway during the February half-term with its Dark Skies Festival. With events scheduled throughout the year, the Festival Bowland programme celebrates nature, landscape, culture and heritage, offering something for everyone. Hetty Byrne, the sustainable tourism officer for the Forest of Bowland National Landscape, said: 'We hope the Discover Bowland guide and website will raise awareness of Bowland's stunning natural beauty and the fantastic work of our partnership. Through the publication we aim to inspire visitors to connect with nature, extend their stay, reduce car use and support local businesses." The guide is free, but donations are welcome to Champion Bowland, the charity supporting sustainable tourism, environment and community projects across the protected area. It is available at tourist information centres, hospitality and accommodation providers and other outlets across the Forest of Bowland National Landscape. A digital version will also be available at:
BBC News
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Gallery: Check out these incredible night snaps
The winners of the annual South Downs astrophotography competition have been announced, and the night-sky snaps are absolutely submitted photos of the national park at night to be judged by a panel of winner in the 'Life at Night' category was Giles Embleton-Smith, from Eastbourne, with 'Chanctonbury Coven'.It's an eerie picture of some trees in the national park, at a site that used to be a Roman temple. Giles also scooped the top prize in the 'Magnificent Moon' category, with this shot of a Cold Moon at Petworth said: "I love exploring and finding new locations under the dark skies of the South Downs National Park."Chanctonbury Ring and Petworth Park are both beautiful areas offering different perspectives and composition for nightscape photography." The competition was held ahead of the Dark Skies Festival taking place in the national park, which is one of 22 International Dark Sky Reserves in the are places where there isn't much light pollution from major cities, and you can see clearly the stars above, making them a perfect location for stargazing. You can see how clear the night sky is there in this shot by Jamie Fielding, the winner of the Dark Skyscapes said: "This was a shot I had been planning for over a year, waiting for the perfect time when the Milky Way rises over the south coast and aligns with the Cuckmere Valley. "I was delighted with the results and feel lucky that we have this quality of dark sky in the National Park to capture shots like this, whilst only a matter of miles away from some major towns and cities." The photographs captured lots of elements of the park at night, like this photo of a toad crossing the road at Exceat, East Sussex, taken by Peter Brooks. This stunning photo pf the Northern Lights was taken by Lorcan Taylor-Hood and won the 'Man vs Galaxy' category.
BBC News
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Trees at night photo wins South Downs National Park competition
A photo of lichen-covered trees at Chanctonbury Ring in West Sussex has been named as a winner in an astrophotography competition. Chanctonbury Coven by Giles Embleton-Smith won the life at night category in the annual competition. Judge Vicki Wells said it was "breathtaking", adding: "The cold, December full moon reveals both lichen-clad trunks and etches stunning shadows at this wonderful and charismatic landmark."The competition was held ahead of the Dark Skies Festival taking place at the national park from 13 to 23 February. Mr Embleton-Smith, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, also won in the magnificent moon category for a photo of the rising moon at Petworth Park. He said: "I love exploring and finding new locations under the dark skies of the South Downs National Park."Chanctonbury Ring and Petworth Park are both beautiful areas offering different perspectives and composition for nightscape photography." Jamie Fielding, of Angmering, won the dark skyscapes category with his picture of the Milky Way in the Cuckmere Valley called To Infinity And had been planning the photo for over a year "waiting for the perfect time when the Milky Way rises over the south coast and aligns with the Cuckmere Valley"."Delighted" with the results, he said he felt "lucky" to have "this quality of dark sky". Emily Birtwisle won the mobile phone category with her photo of a family said: "After a very eventful 2024, my family and I came to the Seven Sisters for a few days for a little break."The scenery was absolutely gorgeous, and due to the early darkness we could make the most of the lack of light pollution and appreciate the stars."Additional reporting by PA media.
The Independent
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
‘Breathtaking' tree image among winners of national park night skies contest
A 'breathtaking' image of lichen-covered trees at night has been named as one of the winners in the annual South Downs National Park astrophotography competition. Giles Embleton-Smith, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, won the life at night category for his photograph called Chanctonbury Coven taken at Chanctonbury Ring, a prehistoric hill fort near Washington, West Sussex. Vicki Wells, a member of the national park authority who worked on the BBC's Sky At Night programme and who was one of the judges, said: 'This is a breathtaking photograph of trees at Chanctonbury. 'The cold, December full moon reveals both lichen-clad trunks and etches stunning shadows at this wonderful and charismatic landmark.' Mr Embleton-Smith also claimed the top prize in the magnificent moon category for a shot of the rising moon at Petworth Park. He said: 'I love exploring and finding new locations under the dark skies of the South Downs National Park. 'Chanctonbury Ring and Petworth Park are both beautiful areas offering different perspectives and composition for nightscape photography.' Jamie Fielding, of Angmering, won the dark skyscapes category with his picture of the Milky Way in the Cuckmere Valley called To Infinity And Beyond. He said: 'This was a shot I had been planning for over a year, waiting for the perfect time when the Milky Way rises over the south coast and aligns with the Cuckmere Valley. 'There's not a huge window of opportunity each year to get this shot. 'I was delighted with the results and feel lucky that we have this quality of dark sky in the national park to capture shots like this, whilst only a matter of miles away from some major towns and cities.' The mobile phone category captured the pure joy of stargazing in the South Downs with a triumphant photograph of a family admiring the night's sky. The photograph by Emily Birtwisle of her family stargazing won the category. She said: 'After a very eventful 2024, my family and I came to the Seven Sisters for a few days for a little break. 'The scenery was absolutely gorgeous, and due to the early darkness we could make the most of the lack of light pollution and appreciate the stars.' The competition was held ahead of the Dark Skies Festival held by the national park, which is one of 22 International Dark Sky Reserves in the world.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Breathtaking' tree image among winners of national park night skies contest
A 'breathtaking' image of lichen-covered trees at night has been named as one of the winners in the annual South Downs National Park astrophotography competition. Giles Embleton-Smith, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, won the life at night category for his photograph called Chanctonbury Coven taken at Chanctonbury Ring, a prehistoric hill fort near Washington, West Sussex. Vicki Wells, a member of the national park authority who worked on the BBC's Sky At Night programme and who was one of the judges, said: 'This is a breathtaking photograph of trees at Chanctonbury. 'The cold, December full moon reveals both lichen-clad trunks and etches stunning shadows at this wonderful and charismatic landmark.' Mr Embleton-Smith also claimed the top prize in the magnificent moon category for a shot of the rising moon at Petworth Park. He said: 'I love exploring and finding new locations under the dark skies of the South Downs National Park. 'Chanctonbury Ring and Petworth Park are both beautiful areas offering different perspectives and composition for nightscape photography.' Jamie Fielding, of Angmering, won the dark skyscapes category with his picture of the Milky Way in the Cuckmere Valley called To Infinity And Beyond. He said: 'This was a shot I had been planning for over a year, waiting for the perfect time when the Milky Way rises over the south coast and aligns with the Cuckmere Valley. 'There's not a huge window of opportunity each year to get this shot. 'I was delighted with the results and feel lucky that we have this quality of dark sky in the national park to capture shots like this, whilst only a matter of miles away from some major towns and cities.' The mobile phone category captured the pure joy of stargazing in the South Downs with a triumphant photograph of a family admiring the night's sky. The photograph by Emily Birtwisle of her family stargazing won the category. She said: 'After a very eventful 2024, my family and I came to the Seven Sisters for a few days for a little break. 'The scenery was absolutely gorgeous, and due to the early darkness we could make the most of the lack of light pollution and appreciate the stars.' The competition was held ahead of the Dark Skies Festival held by the national park, which is one of 22 International Dark Sky Reserves in the world. For details, visit
