Businesses get a boost from moor’s dark skies
Businesses in Exmoor National Park are benefiting from the area’s Dark Sky status
THE central Exmoor village of Exford is hosting the National Park’s very first ‘Dark Sky Discovery Hub’, whilst nearby work has started on a new Dark Sky Discovery Trail.
Following a successful grant application to the Exmoor National Park Authority, local businesses Wild About Exmoor and Exford Bridge Tea Rooms are collaborating to create a focal point for visitors interested in experiencing the area’s incredibly dark skies.
Together they will be hosting regular guided stargazing sessions and expert talks throughout the year, along with advice and an array of star charts, books and guides.
Jennie and Malcom Wild, from Wild About Exmoor, offer a range of outdoor experiences but their most popular of late have been exclusive or group guided stargazing sessions.
Jennie said: “Visitors are keen to learn more about what they can see here on a clear night – even with the naked eye you can see thousands of stars, the milky way, star clusters and sometimes even the smudge of our next nearest galaxy, Andromeda.
“We can help them find constellations and, with our telescopes, we can also introduce them to the wonders of deep sky through planets, distant stars and galaxies. In addition to offering guided outdoor stargazing sessions, we will also be running indoor presentations in Exford Bridge Tea Rooms using their new 50” screen and some amazing planetarium software. This will enable groups of up to 30 people of all ages to learn about the night sky.”
The popular Exford Bridge Tea Rooms is owned and run by Claire and Bruce Jenner-Laurens. The young family developed a keen interest in astronomy after a stargazing session with Wild About Exmoor and are now keen to help visitors understand and experience the wonders of Exmoor’s dark skies. Bruce said: “We are so lucky to live and work in an area with such low levels of light pollution here in the middle of Exmoor’s internationally recognised Dark Sky Reserve. We’re delighted to be able to partner with Wild About Exmoor to host events and provide seasonal stargazing information to visitors.
‘We’ve re-designed our interior and will fill our tea rooms with astro-related material’ BRUCE JENNER-LAURENS
“By inspiring and engaging with customers during the day, we hope they will feel more confident to go out and enjoy the spectacle of a clear Exmoor night. We’ve redesigned our interior, invested in new signage and will be filling our tea rooms with astro-related material. Our business will be hosting year-round events and we pride ourselves on a tasty home cooked menu using quality local ingredients.”
Katrina Munro, Sustainable Economy Officer at Exmoor National Park, commented: “The new Dark Sky Discovery Hub, with its yearround events and focus, will perfectly complement our Dark Sky Friendly Business scheme and annual Dark Skies Festival in October.
“Careful consideration has gone into developing a series of Covidsafe events at the Hub starting in June, so once these activities can proceed safely, there will be plenty to keep visitors busy and develop their love and understanding of the National Park and all its special qualities, including our dark skies. For anyone wanting to know more about why Exmoor is the perfect place for astronomy we have just published a free downloadable Astronomer’s Guide to Exmoor National Park on our stargazing webpage.”
Meanwhile signage for a new Dark Sky Discovery Trail due to launch this summer has begun to be installed near Exford. Once finished the 2-mile way-marked route will take visitors on a mini nightime adventure out over open moorland.
Katrina added: “Situated in such a deeply rural part of Exmoor, with minimal light pollution and 360-degree views, on a clear night thousands of stars and the Summer Milky Way will be visible from the trail. But it’s not just about the star-lit sky – there’s the sense of tranquility and exhilaration that comes from being immersed in the sounds of Exmoor at night including the stillness, the wildlife, the winds and the trickling of water from nearby streams.”
The two initiatives form part of a wider dark skies tourism project supported by the Hinkley Tourism Action Partnership, including a ‘Dark Sky Friendly business’ accreditation scheme providing astro-tourism and stargazing training to local businesses. For further details and dates of events at the Dark Sky Discovery Hub at Exford, starting in June call 01643 831759 or visit www.wildaboutexmoor.com and for the Exmoor Dark Skies Festival, new Astronomy Guide and more see www.exmoornationalpark.gov.uk/stargazing.