The Wye Valley Society has successfully received a Nature and Climate Change Grant from Herefordshire Council to deliver a Dark Skies Project in part of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This project will raise understanding through an awareness campaign, public events and an education programme to combat light pollution in Walford first and then move on to Goodrich, Welsh Bicknor, Whitchurch, The Dowards and Ganarew.
Lighting accounts for nearly 6% of the global CO2 emissions and 20% of the electricity used worldwide. Inefficient lighting wastes over £1bn a year in the UK alone.
Cllr Yolande Watson, Herefordshire Councillor for Kerne Bridge said “I’m delighted to support and lead on this important project. Very few people realise increased Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) is directly linked to negative impacts on human health and wildlife such as bats, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and plants”.
The Dark Skies Project will be working with local volunteers to deliver a year-long project – engaging local primary schools, children and their parents to observe and record light pollution with an aim to inform the development of appropriate policy in the Wye Valley AONB and Herefordshire Council.
Mrs Virginia Morgan, Secretary of the Wye Valley Society said “We will be holding a meeting at the Walford Village Hall next month to highlight the importance of Dark Skies in the Wye Valley and show volunteers how they can measure light pollution. It’s a new and exciting project for the Society, members of the community and our partners.”
If you want more information about the project or want to get involved, contact Cllr Yolande Watson on yolande.watson@herefordshire.gov.uk
