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The sky could be the limit for stargazing tourism in rural areas of Northumberland which are free from light pollution.

Initial findings from a study marking the fifth anniversary of the designation of Northumberland International Dark Sky Park show that last year, dark skies tourism was worth over £25m to the county, generating around 450 jobs.

That adds up to £128m since Dark Sky Park designation in 2013.

The figures were released by Lynn Turner, chairman of Northumberland International Dark Sky Park steering group, at an event at the Redesdale Arms in Rochester to celebrate the fifth anniversary of designation.

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

The event was organised by Northumberland National Park Authority, Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust and Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership.

The initial findings show that the Dark Sky Park helped increase off-season bookings, encourage advance bookings and has given businesses confidence to take on more staff, open all year round, and invest in their own stargazing products.

Of businesses interviewed, 57% reported an increase in profits due to dark skies, 22% had increased staffing since 2013, one in four had taken on more staff solely due to dark skies, and 26% of staff received dark skies training.

Satellite maps of England’s light pollution and dark skies by the Campaign to Protect Rural England show that Northumberland is the darkest national park with 96% of the area having pristine night skies.

The process to secure Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park designation in 2013 was overseen by a steering group of Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, Northumberland National Park Authority,

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Forestry Commission, Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society, Northumberland County Council and Northumberland Tourism.

Northumberland is Europe’s largest area of protected night sky at 572 square miles. Duncan Wise, visitor development and marketing manager for Northumberland National Park Authority, said: “Northumberland has the most pristine dark skies in England and they need to be protected from the effects of light pollution.

“It is a message that we instil with every stargazing event we host at The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre on Hadrian’s Wall.

“The developments that have taken place throughout the International Dark Sky Park and beyond is a result of the enthusiasm and dedication of many individuals and effective collaboration between organisations and local communities. Northumberland is well placed to benefit from its dark skies for many years to come.”

Lynn Turner, who is also director of Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, said: “The development of Kielder Observatory and the designation of International Dark Sky Park status have been hugely beneficial to Kielder Water & Forest Park and wider Northumberland.

“There has been increasing interest in Northumberland’s pristine dark skies and this has helped to raise the county’s profile and led to the creation of year-round opportunities for tourism businesses. The Dark Sky Park has been extremely successful and there is the potential to make it even more so, particularly by encouraging year-round tourism.”

Maria Hardy, from the Revitalising Redesdale project, said: “Redesdale has some of the darkest skies in Northumberland and stargazing is an attraction for people to take a mini-break here year round.”