Dark Skies Over Elan Valley

“I was initially involved in the original designation of the Elan Valley as an International Dark Sky Park. That journey brought me out at night with the camera to capture the beauty of the starry skies. It has been a most enjoyable experience slipping out late to appreciate the wonder of the night; I have met lots of interesting people along this journey.

“My first heartfelt admiration for the night sky was the simple experience of appreciating its serene beauty when out and about over lambing time, when the sky was an ever present companion. I have frequently undertaken bat surveys and have been recording the glow worm populations here over the years underneath the nights great twinkling canopy.

“I feel the night rhythms are essential for our wildlife and I hold the darkness of night as a great wonder of life, especially as none of the farms are on the grid, you depend on the dark, its a natural part of life. The photos I take for me are a way of recording the now and to hope these moments will help in some way to safeguard how important Cwm Elan and its precious wildlife, community and skies are for its future guardianship.

“I am the county mammal recorder for Radnorshire so if you do need to get in touch about mammals, farming, photography or night skies please drop me a line”

“Here on the Estate we were granted the silver-tier status by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) based in Arizona, USA. This status now means that the entire 45,000 acres of the Elan Valley are protected against light pollution for the benefit of those who live and work here, in addition to the many visitors each year. The status also provides sanctuary for the abundance of wildlife and nature which can be found by day or night here on the estate.”