Galloway Forest becomes a Dark Sky Park
A Scottish park has become the UK's first Dark Sky Park -- meaning it is one of the best places in the world for stargazing.Galloway Forest Park has been given the award because the sky is pitch black and is not 'spoiled' by near-by lights.
This gives star-gazers a clear view of distant galaxies. It rated 23/24 for dark skies - a normal city would rank at just 13/24.
A spokesperson for the park said the award could see the current number of 850,000 tourists visiting the park each year double.
He added that he hoped they would remember to switch their lights off at night.
Martin Morgan-Taylor, from the International Dark Sky Association said: "Galloway Forest Park is a fantastic asset in the now international network of Dark Sky Parks.
"A core aim in creating such a park is to identify and honour protected public lands with exceptional commitment to, and success in implementing, the ideals of dark sky restoration and preservation.
"Such skies are rapidly disappearing and less than 10% of people in the UK can now see the Milky Way from where they live."
Galloway Forest Park is the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom. Hidden away in the South West of Scotland, it was established in 1947.
The forest park covers 300 square miles (185,329 acres), that's about six times the size of Glasgow, and is managed by Forestry Commission Scotland.
LINKS
Galloway Forest
"A core aim in creating such a park is to identify and honour protected public lands with exceptional commitment to, and success in implementing, the ideals of dark sky restoration and preservation.
"Such skies are rapidly disappearing and less than 10% of people in the UK can now see the Milky Way from where they live."
Galloway Forest Park is the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom. Hidden away in the South West of Scotland, it was established in 1947.
The forest park covers 300 square miles (185,329 acres), that's about six times the size of Glasgow, and is managed by Forestry Commission Scotland.
LINKS
Galloway Forest
