A new Isle of Wight Dark Skies Festival, run and hosted by The New Carnival Company, is to be held at the Isle of Wight Pearl on Military Road this February half-term.
The Isle of Wight has incredible, unique, dark skies along the southwest coast, only 1% of land in the southeast of England still has a natural Dark Sky.
The festival will be a celebration and promotion of the Isle of Wight’s Dark Skies, supporting the Isle of Wight’s application to become a ‘Dark Skies Park’ as well as raising awareness of Dark Skies on the Isle of Wight.
Astronomy, nocturnal wildlife and insects, photography, science, art, heritage, and culture will be explored during the festival, whilst talks, interactive activities, and installations will engage and inspire young and old.
New Carnival is a community interest, non-profit making company, NPO Arts Council England funded.
The Dark Skies Festival is funded through the Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in partnership with New Carnival, as part of AONB’s work with the European Union Interreg Project, connecting Biosphere Reserves across the continent.
Hannah Ray, Director of New Carnival states:
“If you live in a big town or city, it is unlikely you will be able to see the stars or milky way clearly due to urbanisation and the resulting light pollution. We are lucky on the Island in that we do still have natural dark skies, we want to celebrate this and raise awareness of the importance of them. Looking up at the vastness of the universe helps to ground us, gives us perspective, reminding us that we are a tiny part of the almost unimaginably large cosmos.”
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Richard Grogan, Lead Officer for the IWAONB added:
“Dark skies are an important feature of the nationally important landscape on the Isle of Wight. As much of our wildlife is nocturnal, the lives of many creatures are enhanced by low light levels and this is easily achieved in areas that lack urban influences that cause light pollution. In addition, the night sky is a wonderful natural spectacle, and it is important that we encourage access to it and celebrate the night skies of the Isle of Wight”’.
The event is to be held on 17th/18th February from 15:00 – 20:00.
The festival will have opportunities to stargaze with experts on hand to help identify constellations and planets. Talks from astronomers, cosmologists, and navigators.
Can all the pretentious tossers please turn off their illuminated gate posts and other status symbol outside lights.
3 pretentious tossers have been triggered.
Surely with all the 2nd homes there are enough dark skies with Seaview, Bembridge,Cowes and Yarmouth without having to establish anymore.I suppose beavers will be the next push.