Wild About Dark Skies Festival
Join us from 28 October to Sunday 10 November and celebrate the High Weald’s starry night skies..
Did you know the High Weald National Landscape has some of the darkest skies in the South East?
The Wild About Dark Skies Festival is your chance to experience these breathtaking views and join the fight against light pollution.
Running from Saturday 28 October to Sunday 10 November 2024, the Festival promises a fortnight of stargazing, workshops, talks, walks and fun family activities.
The Wild About Dark Skies Festival offers something for everyone. Whether you’re an avid stargazer, a concerned resident, or a family looking for a fun and educational outing, this Festival is for you. It’s an opportunity for us all to come together and connect with the beauty and tranquillity of the High Weald National Landscape.
All events will be led by local community groups and individuals passionate about the area’s Dark Skies.
The Wild About Dark Skies Festival is supported by the High Weald National Landscape Partnership and sponsored by Lund Trust.
Why you should join us
This is more than just a celebration; it’s a call to action. Light pollution negatively affects wildlife, contributes to climate change, and affects our own wellbeing.
The Festival aims to raise awareness about these issues and suggest small, simple lifestyle changes we can all make to help reduce light pollution in our own communities.
How do I get involved?
Free events will take place across the High Weald, from Warbleton to Wadhurst.
Everyone is welcome to join in the fun; there are some great family-friendly events, too – perfect for half term!
To find out what’s going on in your area, scroll down the page for the event programme.
Some events will require booking and others will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
See you in October!
Wild About Dark Skies Festival 2024: Event programme
| Date | Venue | Event | Host | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 28 October, 7pm | King’s John Nursery | Wadhurst and Ticehurst Star Party Fun for all the family. | Wild About Wadhurst & Wild About Ticehurst | Email Ellie for more details >> |
| Tuesday 29 October, 7pm | Bodle Street Village Hall | Don’t Light Me Up! Fascinating presentation on the wonders of the stars and the impact of light pollution – with local expert Doug Edworthy. | Wild About Warbleton | No booking required but limited space Email Pat for more details >> |
| Wednesday 30 October, 5-7pm | Woodland Enterprise Centre, Flimwell | Pumpkin & Star Party Storytelling and fun crafts for primary school children and their parents/carers. Learn about the special pumpkin who loved the stars and his woodland friends, and make your own paper pumpkin to take home! | High Weald National Landscape Partnership | Booking opens soon! |
| Thursday 31 October, 6.45pm for 7pm start | Brightling Village Hall | Darker Brightling: Celebrating the Night Sky in Our Village Informative talks and workshops on the wonders of the night sky, including: – Doug Edworthy: impacts of light pollution – Professor Dave Goulson: insects and the night – Results from July’s Moth Breakfast: species, numbers and photography from all three traps around the parish – Have a go at stargazing with Sussex Sidewalk Astronomers. | Brightling Environmental Group | Email Caroline for more details >> |
| Friday, 1 November, 7pm | Brightling, start location tbc | Into the Dark Walk (weather permitting) Step out into the dark and enjoy the starry night sky on this evening guided walk around Brightling. | Brightling Environmental Group | Email Caroline for more details >> |
| Friday 1 November, time tbc | Springham Farm, Hailsham | Dark Skies Farm Walk Enjoy an evening guided walk and talk around a regenerative, biodynamic High Weald farm. Learn about the work going on at Springham to help nature. | Springham Farm | Contact Zoe Willcocks on 07856 069209 |
| Saturday 2 November, 7pm | The Observatory, Herstmonceux | Observatory Open Day and Light Pollution Workshops Come and enjoy the fabulous atmosphere that surrounds the Observatory at night and, weather permitting, look through some of the largest telescopes in the country at some extraordinary night sky objects. Join a light pollution workshop with Samantha Nicholas from the High Weald team, and learn how you can do your bit to conserve our dark skies. | The Observatory, Herstmonceux and High Weald National Landscape Partnership | Learn more and book >> |
| Sunday 3 November, 7pm | Meet at Crowhurst Village Hall | Dark Skies Walk with astronomer Doug Edworthy (weather permitting) Step out into the dark and explore the night sky around Crowhurst. Wildlife-friendly torches provided, please wear sturdy footwear. | Crowhurst Environment Group | Email Sonia for more details >> |
| Monday 4 November, 7pm – 8.30pm | Concert Hall, Mayfield School | ‘Why Dark Skies Matter’ – talk with Dan Oakley Hear from professional dark sky expert Dan Oakley on why we should be conserving our dark skies and how we can reduce light pollution. | Mayfield Climate Change Group | Booking link coming soon >> |
| Wednesday 6 November, 8pm | Meet at Crowhurst Recreation Ground Pavilion | Family stargazing event with Doug Edworthy and Sussex Sidewalk Astronomers (weather permitting) Have a go at stargazing! Warm drinks and cake provided, please wear warm clothes. | Crowhurst Environment Group | Email Sonia for more details >> |
| Thursday 7 November, 7pm | Warbleton Church rooms | Don’t Light Me Up! Fascinating presentation on the wonders of the stars and the impact of light pollution – with local expert Doug Edworthy. | Wild About Warbleton | No booking required but limited space Email Pat for more details >> |
| Thursday 7 November, 7pm | Webinar | An artistic view of the night sky This fascinating virtual event is led by local artist, campaigner and citizen scientist Steve Geliot. Join Steve for a celebration of the Natural Night, an exploration of light pollution – what is it, how does it impact humans and wildlife, and what can we do about it? We will also explore sensory ecology and the natural dark | High Weald National Landscape Partnership | Registration link >> |
| Saturday 9 November, 10am – 8pm | Dormansland Village Hall | The Alternative Fireworks Party Enjoy a fun-packed day for all ages, with a wide range of activities celebrating our night sky! – Visit the the Planetarium – Light pollution workshops – Face painting – Soothing Moon Yoga – Spend the evening looking at the stars with the Edenbridge Astronomy Group. | Alison Neate | Email Alison for more details >> |
| Sunday 10 November, 2pm | Crowhurst Village Hall | Bat Conservation Presentation Meet Karen Hammond from the Bat Conservation Trust, and learn how these misunderstood creatures are affected by light pollution. Refreshments available. | Crowhurst Environment Group | Email Sonia for more details >> |
Our Dark Skies Experts:
At this year’s Wild About Dark Skies Festival you can hear from experts on a wide range of topics, from astrology and art to storytelling and ecology.
Find out who will be appearing 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).