Scotobiology is the biological study of darkness and the role it plays in living organisms. Sky glow, or over illumination of the night sky above the horizon, can come from natural sources such as the moon, stars or auroras. Over illumination by artificial man-made light can be extremely detrimental to wildlife, human health, our environment and the planet. The negative ecological consequences of light pollution also include wastage of energy, increased emissions and burning of fossil fuels. Nocturnal animals and organisms can be harmed by light pollution and interrupting darkness can create drastic effects that can alter food gathering habits, mating and breeding (such as the decline in glow-worms locally), behaviour, nighttime pollination of plants (by moths) and migration (for example birds and insects).

These amazing photos, taken in Ashover Parish by Jim Alder, show the magical bioluminescence from nocturnal female glow-worms (beetles) as they attract the males. The glow-worm populations are falling due to artificial light pollution.

Noctalgia meaning “sky grief” is a new term Astronomers (Aparna Venkatesan and John Barentine) have invented to describe the pain and sadness associated with losing access to our celestial views and heritage of the night sky due to the damaging effects of man-made light pollution. Have you noticed that you can’t see as many stars as you used to? We are losing this essential connection: it is disappearing globally at an alarming rate.

Our beautiful night skies need to be protected. We all need to be mindful and control how much artificial light spills into the environment. As part of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to limit the impact of negative light pollution and to comply with the Local Neighbourhood Plan (2015 up to 2033) and the Environments Act 2021/2023, Ashover Parish has a Dark Skies Policy: AP.19. This stipulates that ‘Any development must limit the impact of light pollution from artificial externally visible light sources. Any proposals to install lighting in areas of the Parish that are currently dark at night will be resisted.’

Better focused, downcast, softer, exterior lighting with motion sensors - to use the light only where and when it is needed - is more effective, safer and beneficial to the wildlife and our environment. There is still no proven evidence or link between lighting levels and crime rates or nighttime collisions due to reduced street lighting. In fact, the brightest areas in cities show some of the worst crime and disorder results.

There are global collaborative policies, organisations and dark-sky movements establishing areas worldwide protecting the skies. US based DarkSky International, formerly the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) was the first organisation in this movement incorporated in the late 1980’s. The UK government has an All-Party Parliamentary Group for Dark Skies (APPG) formed for dark sky preservation. It introduces and actions legislation to control intrusive light within the National Planning Policy Framework, to set standards of enforcement for the direction and intensity of lighting (dark sky hours and light levels) and increase education and public awareness. The Commission for Dark Skies (CfDS), set up in the late 1980’s, is part of the British Astronomical Association and is the UK’s largest body working to restore our natural starry skies and combat the increasing levels of light pollution.

We are lucky to be living in a ‘Dark Skies’ area and we all need to continue to preserve this. Embrace the Dark Skies in Ashover Parish and feel the benefits of gazing up to the wondrous stars and the Milky Way.

Lisa Johnson

Ashover Parish Climate Change Action Group