Northumberland given night sky accolade

Ian Payne has been at the new Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, with a full report on what it means for locals, and the world's star gazers.

The Northumberland National Park is the most sparsely populated area of England.

Only two thousand people live here, that is five people per square mile.

The combined areas of the new Dark Sky Park covers the area between Hadrian's Wall and the Scottish border.

The quality of the new park depends on the planning, as Gregg Easteal reports.

An area of Northumberland has been recognised as one of the best places in the world for stargazing.

It is the biggest Dark Sky region in Europe.

Lucy Taylor reports.

Within the Dark Sky Park there are Dark Sky Discovery sites. They have been chosen because of their closeness to facilities such as toilets and hostels. If you just want to go out and stargaze, here is a list of the best places to go:

• Walltown Country Park
• Greenhaugh Village
• Byrness Village
• Elf Kirk View Point
• Alwinton Car Park
• Ingram in the Breamish Valley
• Stonehaugh
• Wooler Common, Wooler

Annie Hutchinson, Chair of Wark Parish Council, has been part of the steering group involved in pushing forward with Northumberland's Dark Sky bid. She says the status will greatly benefit the area.

Campsite owners are thrilled about Northumberland's Dark Sky status because the time that is best for stargazing is currently the time they experience low tourism. Stephen Dunwell says that the night sky is so clear that he can see his shadow from the moon.

Sir Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal for England, said:

Elisabeth Rowark, Chair of the Northumberland Dark Skies Working Group and Director of the Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, said: