Did you know the High Weald has some of the darkest skies in the South East, with the least artificial light?

As well as celebrating the High Weald’s dark skies, the Festival raises awareness about the negative impacts of light pollution – on wildlife, climate change and our own wellbeing – and provides some ‘quick wins’ and advice for how we can all do our bit to reduce it.

The Wild about Dark Skies Festival isn’t just a celebration; it’s a call to action. It’s an opportunity for us all to come together and make a real difference here in the High Weald. If you’re passionate about reducing light pollution, come and join us!

For inspiration, watch the short film created for this year’s Festival by Sussex artist and citizen scientist, Steve Geliot. ‘Sleepwalking in the Dark’ examines Steve’s relationship with the night sky, and how it has inspired his art over the years.

Get involved with the Festival

We are inviting Parishes, ‘Wild About…’ groups, community groups, astronomical societies, and other organisations across the High Weald National Landscape to take part in the Wild about Dark Skies Festival 2025.

Grant funding is available to support eligible events through the High Weald Nature and Community Fund.

Your contribution to the festival can be as big or small as you wish – you can hold one event or multiple celebrations.

However, your event MUST have a theme of reducing light pollution to be included.

Activities could include:

• Family Star party – fun activities for children, games, craft and puzzles
• Dark Sky photography exhibition
• Mobile Planetarium show
• Stargazing demonstrations with astronomy groups
• Talks from special guest speakers
• Leading a dark skies walk

Interested in taking part?

Read through our guidance documents and contact s.nicholas@highweald.org for an application pack.

Our Dark Skies Experts:

The 2024 Wild About Dark Skies Festival welcomed experts on a wide range of topics, from astrology and art to storytelling and ecology.

Find out who appeared at our events below:

Rachel Bennington:

Rachel Bennington is a professional storyteller and has told myths and traditional tales from all around the world to schools and at events across Sussex.

Doug Edworthy:

A space enthusiast since hearing Sputnik’s beeps at the age of four, Doug is an amateur astronomer and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He provides ‘Outreach’ for the public and is especially keen to enthuse young minds with the awesome universe out there.

Dan Oakley:

Dan is a professional dark sky expert and founding director of Darkscape Consulting.  He has long experience of working in dark skies and is passionate about providing services to protect our connection the cosmos for people and our planet.

Dan served as the Dark Sky Officer for the South Downs National Park Authority for over 10 years and was responsible for creating and producing all aspects of the South Downs IDA International Dark Sky “Moore’s” Reserve application.

Ralph Hobbs:

Retired Conservation Ecologist based in East Sussex. Experienced Ecologist with a demonstrated history of working in the environmental services industry.

Dave Goulson:

Dave is Professor of Biology (Evolution, Behaviour and Environment) at the University of Sussex. Specializing in the ecology and conservation of insects, particularly bumblebees.

He is also the author of several books, including Bumblebees: Their Behaviour and Ecology (2003), Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse (2021), and more than 200 academic articles.

Steve Geliot:

Dark Skies, Natural Night artist, campaigner, citizen scientist.

Steve works with photography and moving image as well as field recording and remote sensing (NASA Satellite based).