VIRTUAL DARK SKIES FESTIVAL REPORT FEBRUARY 2021
HELEN DALTON
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 1 REPORT – FEB 2021
INTRODUCTION This year’s Dark Skies Festival was quite different to previous Dark Skies Festivals due to the pandemic. From the start of December 2020, we realised that we were going to be in lockdown in February 2021 and therefore we had to plan a festival which still attracted people to the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors but in a different way.
In October we were in a similar situation for our Fringe Festival, so we decided to take the learnings we had from this festival and implement them on a bigger scale for the February Festival. As a result, we created a Virtual Dark Skies Festival in a truly short space of time. Working closely with the North York Moors and Neill Sanders from Go Stargazing.
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 2 REPORT – FEB 2021
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Aims As we were unable to host any actual Dark Skies events as part of the festival this year we had to create a festival which was appealing to a wide audience and would promote our National Parks and their Special Qualities and in particular inform our audience both areas have recently been awarded International Dark Sky Reserve Status.
Objectives
We needed to achieve the following: Create a family friendly festival which was accessible to all. Promote and raise awareness of the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. Encourage the wider audience to visit both National Parks. Create a wider following of people who want to know and understand what is happening in the National Parks and we can continue to update them for the businesses in our area. Carry out a survey to demonstrate we had achieved our objectives. Demonstrate to businesses how the Dark Skies Festival can help support their business in the future.
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 3 REPORT – FEB 2021
Figure 1
Summary
Feedback was fantastic and many people said we had created a wonderful family friendly festival. We raised the profile of both National Parks and reached more people than we would have been able to if we had just hosted events alone. (appendix 1) Promotion and publicity still remained high with journalists and media thanks to Amanda Brown promoting the festival both locally and nationally. (appendix 2)
Events
We decided we still wanted to keep the festival going for two weeks and we wanted as much variety as possible throughout the festival.
We had at least one event every day of the festival and on some days we had two or three events. We also had some ongoing activities which took place throughout the two-week festival, which the audience could join in at any time of the day or night.
The majority of events were presented by phenomenal astronomers who, in normal times, we would work with during our festival, so it gave the audiences and businesses the opportunity to see and meet presenters who they can see for real when we host actual festivals.
Some businesses were fantastic enough to host their own event as part of the festival and it just shows that this also helps raise their profile, for example Elizabeth Fawcett from Humble Pie Cookery School created a wonderful YouTube video of how to make ‘Constellation Biscuits’ and Stump Cross Cavern hosted their own Virtual Dark Skies event with Richard Darn and we promoted this for them.
SUN, 28 FEB Art in Space Go Stargazing – Online event
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 4 REPORT – FEB 2021
SUN, 28 FEB Beginner’s Telescope Workshop (additional date) Go Stargazing – Online event
SAT, 27 FEB How fast are you moving when sitting still? Go Stargazing – Online event
FRI, 26 FEB Voyage of Discovery Go Stargazing – Online event
FRI, 26 FEB
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 5 REPORT – FEB 2021
Time to ask your Space Questions Dark Skies Festival – Online event
WED, 24 FEB Swaledale Starscapes Go Stargazing – Online event
WED, 24 FEB Nature's Night-time Marvels (additional date) Dark Skies Festival – Online event
TUE, 23 FEB The Dark Side of Street Lighting Go Stargazing – Online event
MON, 22 FEB How Animals Deal with Darkness
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 6 REPORT – FEB 2021
Go Stargazing – Online event
SUN, 21 FEB Nightscape Photography in the Yorkshire Dales Go Stargazing – Online event
SUN, 21 FEB Beginner’s Telescope Workshop Go Stargazing – Online event
SAT, 20 FEB Building a Satellite Go Stargazing – Online event
SAT, 20 FEB Beginner's Guide to the Night Sky (additional date) Go Stargazing – Online event
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 7 REPORT – FEB 2021
FRI, 19 FEB The Artificial Intelligence Takeover of Space & Astronomy Go Stargazing – Online event
FRI, 19 FEB Dark Skies Festival - Beginners Guide to the Universe Stump Cross Caverns – Online event
THU, 18 FEB Perseverance Rover Lands on Mars! Go Stargazing – Online event
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 8 REPORT – FEB 2021
THU, 18 FEB Live views of the Moon! Go Stargazing – Online event
THU, 18 FEB Nature's Night-time Marvels Dark Skies Festival – Online event
WED, 17 FEB The Invisible Universe DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 9 REPORT – FEB 2021
TUE, 16 FEB Reverse through the Universe Go Stargazing – Online event
TUE, 16 FEB Dark Skies Festival Creative Writing Workshop Dark Skies Festival – Online event
MON, 15 FEB Landscape Astrophotography for Beginners Go Stargazing – Online event
SAT, 13 FEB
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 10 REPORT – FEB 2021
Beginner's Guide to the Night Sky Go Stargazing – Online event
FRI, 12 FEB National Parks Virtual Dark Skies Festival 2021 Go Stargazing – Online event
FRI, 12 FEB Planet Discoveries Inspired by Star Trek Go Stargazing – Online event
ALL WEEK Orla the Alien- Space Missions Dark Skies Festival – Online event
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 11 REPORT – FEB 2021
FRI, 12 FEB Our Place in Space – Children’s Workshop Dark Skies Festival – Online event
ALL WEEK Humble Pie Cookery School – Celestial Biscuits https://youtube.com/watch?v=YXLYN0DEZfs&feature=share
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 12 REPORT – FEB 2021
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ATTENDANCE
Social Media has played a key role in the promotion of the Virtual Dark Skies Festival and the audience which we have reached and engaged with. Our platforms were Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, with Facebook being the main go to platform - hosting the events via Facebook live and zoom.
Live events - Go Stargazing Facebook Page
Art in Space - Sam Cornwell Beginners Telescope Workshop - Luke Tyas How fast are you moving when sitting still - Dr Fred Voyage of Discovery - Steven Gray Our Place in Space - Jo Richardson Space Questions - Jo Richardson Space Detectives (evening) - Jo Richardson Space Detectives (morning) - Jo Richardson Natures Night-time Marvels - Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Natures Night-time Marvels - Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Dark Skies Festival Creative Writing Workshop - Seven Stories Swaledale Starscapes - Paul Clark The Dark Side of Street Lighting - Dr Callum Macgregor Moon Live - Neill Sanders How Animals Deal with Darkness - Dr Dean Waters Moon Live - Wil Cheung Nightscape Photography - Pete Collins Beginners Telescope Workshop - Neill Sanders/Sam Cornwell Building a Satellite - Luke Tyas Beginners Guide - Richard Darn Artificial Intelligence - Dr Maggie Lieu Perserverance Rover - Dr Fred Introduction Video Humble Pie Cookery Kitchen - 'Constellation Biscuits' The Invisible Universe - Andy Newsam Reverse through the Universe - Martin Whipp Astrophotography - Gary Lintern Go on a Mission to Mars - Colin Stuart Beginners Guide - Richard Darn Planet Discoveries - Professor Carole Haswell - 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 140,000 160,000
Likes Comments Shares Views Zoom Attendees Reach Engagement
Attendance
Zoom Attendees for the overall festival were 1,505 with more than 1 person watching the events.
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 13 REPORT – FEB 2021
Facebook Live has received over 176,600 views for all the events, this figure will continue to increase as more and more people view the events. They are always available on our Facebook Pages.
Total reach via Social Media
Total Reach 3,934,377
Zoom Attendees 1,727
Live Reach 430,256
FB Events 2,411,800
Blog 207
Web 4,286
Twitter 341,749
Instagram 373,514
Facebook 370,838
- 1,000,000 2,000,000 3,000,000 4,000,000 5,000,000
OVER 4 MILLION PEOPLE WERE REACHED ON SOCIAL MEDIA IN TOTAL
Engagement Survey Awareness
Total engagement for the Festival 459 individuals completed our The Virtual Dark Skies Festival via social media was: 178,421 survey has certainly raised the awareness of the National Park in the UK and overseas.
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 14 REPORT – FEB 2021
SURVEY RESULTS
After the virtual October festival, we realised we could target an audience that we wouldn’t have been able reach if we had just had events within both National Parks. As a result, we wanted to understand our audience and to see if we had been able to inspire and influence them to visit the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors when the time allowed (Covid-19).
95% (440) of people who completed the survey were inspired to visit the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors.
Results based on 459 respondents (appendix 3)
74% (340) of the people who completed the survey really enjoyed the events that were offered during the festival giving 6/6 stars and 23% (104) thought that the events were good (5/5 stars). Average rating 5.7 stars out of 6.
Facebook was by far the most popular way of finding out about the festival with 77% (357) respondents saying they heard about it via this platform. Following this, ‘other’ was the next highest statistic with14% (63). In response to this question, some the most mentioned alternatives to those stated in the survey were: Word of mouth (most common), newspaper, newsletter (YDNPA) and email alerts.
Of the 459 people who completed the survey 191 watched with members of their family totalling 745 people altogether. The majority of people (59%, 270 respondents) who watched one or more events as part of the festival watched alone.
95% (439) of respondents were also keen to see a virtual aspect to the festival again in future, many stating this because of the accessibility to the events.
The results from the survey mean that these people have shown an interest in the Dark Skies Festival and can be contacted when we have information on the next festival and the events, offering an opportunity to visit and stay in the National Parks.
Survey comments can be found here.
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 15 REPORT – FEB 2021
PUBLICITY AND PROMOTION
The Dark Skies Festival always creates a great deal of interest with the media both on a local and national level and even our virtual festival had publicity and promotion, and thanks goes to the continued support of Amanda Brown.
– Appendix 2.
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 16 REPORT – FEB 2021
LOCATION
UK Postcode locations of Virtual Dark Skies Festival February 2021 event attendees
Locations of Virtual Dark Skies Festival February 2021 event attendees from Facebook Live
Facebook location stats can be found here.
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 17 REPORT – FEB 2021
. Appendix 1 Social Media results
Live Events - Go Stargazing Zoom Facebook Page Likes Comments Shares Views Attendees Reach Engagement Planet Discoveries - Professor Carole Haswell 283 291 41 6,700 80 12,836 2,788
Beginners Guide - Richard Darn 1,200 778 202 25,000 95 54,489 9,247 Go on a Mission to Mars - Colin Stuart 296 259 59 7,700 89
Astrophotography - Gary Lintern 319 343 61 8,300 85 20,755 3,071 Reverse through the Universe - Martin Whipp 230 231 68 5,200 70 13,491 2,424 The Invisible Universe - Andy Newsam 247 209 43 6,100 70 16,253 2,384 Humble Pie Cookery Kitchen - 'Constellation Biscuits' 123 13 7 11,255 639
Introduction Video 176 19 13 10,663 629
Perserverance Rover - Dr Fred 2,100 1,700 446 46,000 96 82,887 18,174 Artificial Intelligence - Dr Maggie Lieu 169 118 30 4,800 87 10,974 1,876
Beginners Guide - Richard Darn 427 408 80 9,600 78 18,825 4,018
Building a Satellite - Luke Tyas 70 52 19 3,300 100 13,270 571 Beginners Telescope Workshop - Neill Sanders/Sam Cornwell 669 187 34 14,000 100 29,677 4,628 Nightscape Photography - Pete Collins 246 187 25 6,300 80 13,525 2,636
Moon Live - Wil Cheung 629 195 73 7,900 76 25,592 3,479 How Animals Deal with Darkness - Dr Dean Waters 117 57 12 2,900 68 7,328 1,158
Moon Live - Neill Sanders 887 489 82 13,000 80 30,622 5,013 The Dark Side of Street Lighting - Dr Callum Macgregor 157 95 25 3,700 55 8,769 1,819 Swaledale Starscapes - Paul Clark 265 213 45 6,100 65 19,147 2,760 Dark Skies Festival Creative Writing Workshop - Seven Stories 20 Natures Night-time Marvels - Yorkshire Wildlife Trust 45 Natures Night-time Marvels - Yorkshire Wildlife Trust 21 Space Detectives (morning) - Jo Richardson 25 Space Detectives (evening) - Jo Richardson 20 Space Questions - Jo Richardson 7 schools
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 18 REPORT – FEB 2021
Our Place in Space - Jo Richardson 36 schools Voyage of Discovery - Steven Gray 223 167 30 5,000 86 13,018 1,984 How fast are you moving when sitting still - Dr Fred 200 134 47 4,700 76 9,562 2,033 Beginners Telescope Workshop - Luke Tyas
Art in Space - Sam Cornwell 161 138 24 3,800 7,318 1,907
8,610 5,844 1,365 176,600 1505 430,256 73,238
Appendix 2: Amanda Brown
Dales dark skies festival will be beamed into the nation's living rooms Telegraph & Argus Reach 950,000 https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/keighleynews/ (11/01/21) (web) 19002099.dales-dark-skies-festival-will-beamed-nations- living-rooms/ Beauty of the Yorkshire night skies brought into nation's living Yorkshire Post Circulation: 21,817 rooms - The virtual Dark Skies Festival programme is a Readership: 65,451 (12/01/21) Value: £3,156.48 collaboration between the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks together with Go Stargazing. Dark Skies Festival goes virtual for moongazers - a packed The Northern Echo Circulation: 21,498 Readership: 64,494 programme of events is in store as the popular festival goes (12/01/21) Value: £4,207.36 online for everyone to enjoy Dark Skies Festival 2021 in Yorkshire's national parks to go Daily Mirror (12/01/21) Reach 36.9M virtual https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/uk-ireland/dark-skies- festival-2021-yorkshires-23300075 Dark Skies Festival 2021 celebrating the wonder of Huddersfield Examiner Yorkshire's skies to be held virtually Reach 12.3K Live (digital) (12/01/21) https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/dark-skies- festival-2021-celebrating-19602139 Darlington & Stockton Popular Dark Skies Festival goes virtual for all to enjoy safely Times (digital) Reach 37.3K https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/1900342 (12/01/21) 4.popular-dark-skies-festival-goes-virtual-enjoy-safely/ Popular Dark Skies Festival goes virtual for all to enjoy safely The Northern Echo Reach 1.48M https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19002797.popular- (digital) (12/01/21) dark-skies-festival-goes-virtual-enjoy-safely/ Dark Skies festival set for school half term York Press (digital) Reach 1.13M https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/19002115.dark-skies- (12/01/21) festival-set-school-half-term/ Dales dark skies festival will be beamed into the nation's Craven Herald & living rooms Pioneer (digital) Reach 182K https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/19002065.dales-dark- (11/01/21) skies-festival-will-beamed-nations-living-rooms/ Yorkshire's Dark Skies Festival to go virtual in February so we can stargaze from our sofas. It will bring the wonders of Country Living (digital) Reach 9K the night sky into homes around the country (12/01/21) https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/countryside/a35186 233/dark-skies-festival-yorkshire-virtual/
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 19 REPORT – FEB 2021
February’s Dark Skies Festival goes virtual Kirbymoorside blog https://www.kirkbymoorside.info/februarys-dark-skies-festival- (12/01/21) goes-virtual/ Georgia at Breakfast - Interview with Neil Sanders from Go BBC Radio York Reach 28K Stargazing 07:51-08:00 then excerpts of interview at 11.47 (13/01/21) and 14.48, and News bulletins at 11am, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm BBC Radio Leeds Richard Stead at Breakfast - Interview with Neil Sanders from Reach 78K (13/01/21) Go Stargazing 08:20-08:30 am The full list of meteor showers to watch out for in 2021. Once Covid lockdown restrictions ease, and we can travel freely once again, you can take advantage of the beautiful stargazing locations across the UK. No. 5 North York Moors: Daily Telegraph Reach 31.1M As well as stunning night skies, the North York Moors boast (13/01/21) historic market towns such as Helmsley and Pickering, plus appealing coastal spots, including Scarborough and Whitby. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/0/full-list-meteor- showers-watch-2021/ Look to the skies in lockdown Ripon Gazette Reach 1K https://www.ripongazette.co.uk/whats-on/things-to-do/look- (14/01/21) skies-lockdown-3100781 Dark Skies festival goes virtual – The wonders of the night Craven Herald & Circulation: 8,624 sky will be brought into the nation’s living rooms during the Pioneer (14/01/21) Readership: 25,872 February half-term courtesy of a virtual Dark Skies Festival Print Value: £1,311.66 programme created by the Yorkshire Dales & North York Moors national parks together with Go Stargazing. Dark Skies Festival goes virtual for stargazers – A popular annual festival that brings the wonders of the night sky to life Darlington & Stockton Circulation: 17,345 is going virtual this year. The festival programme has been Times (North Readership: 52,035 created by both National Parks together with Go Stargazing Yorkshire) (15/01/21) Value: £264.81 and will be a mix of free and paid for events. See darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk Fun for little ones – Dark Skies The wonders of the night sky will be brought into living rooms on February 12-28, with a Yorkshire Evening Circulation: 18,093 Readership: 54,279 virtual Dark Skies Festival programme from the Yorkshire Post (19/01/21) Value: £366.10 Dales and North York Moors National Parks and Go Stargazing. Dark Skies Festival is beaming into homes – The wonders of Gazette and Herald Circulation: 8,097 the night sky will be brought into the nation’s living rooms Readership: 24,291 (20/01/21) Value: £972 during the February half term, courtesy of a virtual Dark Skies Festival programme. Looking to the skies in lockdown – Nidderdale AONB features as part of virtual Dark Skies Festival The wonders of Pateley Bridge and Circulation: 1,133 the night sky will be brought into the nation’s living rooms Nidderdale Herald Readership: 3,399 next month (February 12-28) courtesy of a virtual Dark Skies (21/01/21) Value: £462.56 Festival programme created by the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks together with Go Stargazing. Dark Skies Festival will be beamed into the nation's homes Gazette and Herald Reach 115K www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/19008376.dark-skies-festival- (web) (22/01/21) will-beamed-nations-homes/ Dark Skies Festival will be beamed into the nation's homes York Press (digital) Reach 1M www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/ryedale/19008376.dark-skies- (22/01/21) festival-will-beamed-nations-homes/ Top 5 Pick of the best arts. 1. Dark Matter February’s Dark Sky Festival will go virtual during half term. The programme Yorkshire Post Circulation: 21,817 Readership: 65,451 created by the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors (22/01/21) Value: £1,348.08 National Parks together with Go Stargazing, runs from February 12-28.
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 20 REPORT – FEB 2021
JPI Media Publishing
Ltd. Digital article across their stable of 130 publications inc: Lancashire Evening Post (21/01/21) Circulation: 11,632 The Gazette (Blackpool) (21/01/21) Circulation: 8,187 Leighton Buzzard
Observer (26/01/21) Circulation: 5,716 All (28/01/21):- Halifax Courier Circulation: 11,010 Stars in your eyes ... from safety of your living room The Scarborough News Circulation: 13,191 wonders of the night sky will be brought into the nation's Luton News Circulation: 6,161 living rooms courtesy of a virtual Dark Skies Festival Hemel Hempstead Circulation: 9,118 programme created by the Yorkshire Dales and North York Gazette Moors National Parks together with Go Stargazing. The Bucks Herald Banbury Guardian Circulation: 5,650 Circulation: 7,865 Daventry Express Circulation: 6,883 Bridlington Free Press Circulation: 10,545 Berwick Advertiser Circulation: 3,801 Corby Telegraph Circulation: 17,018 Harborough Mail Circulation: 9,039 Rugby Advertiser Circulation: 8,797 Todmorden News Circulation: 2,814 Northampton Circulation: 19,598 Chronicle Circulation: 2,415 Morpeth Herald Pick of the month – Yorkshire’s Dark Sky Festival 2021 - The North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales festival returns, hot on BBC Sky at Night Circulation: 15,199 Readership: 45,597 the heels of the two National Parks' designation as (February edition) Value: £398.4 International Dark Sky Reserves, with the theme of 'Nature at Night'. Packed festival programme for star gazers: Emily Watson, visitor development for the North York Moors National Park The Northern Echo Circulation: 21,498 said: "We've designed the virtual programme to reflect the Readership: 64,494 (23/01/21) Value: £2,511.96 broad range of interests and age groups of visitors that would ordinarily come along to the actual Dark Skies Festival in our National Parks Packed Dark Skies Festival programme for star gazers The Northern Echo Reach 1.48M www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19032086.packed-dark- (digital) (22/01/21) skies-festival-programme-star-gazers/ Dark Skies festival programme launch York Press (digital) Reach 1M https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/19032230.dark-skies- (23/01/21) festival-programme-launch/ Discover the Moon, Mars… and moths – They may be the terro of your cashmere collection but you can find out how moths help the eco-system – by nocturnally pollinating plants The Mail on Sunday Circulation: 984,582 – during the Virtual Dark Skies Festival next month. The Readership: 2,953,746 (24/01/21) Value: £8,501.01 festival may even complement home schooling as experts from professors and astronomers to astrophotographers reveal science secrets from the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks, together with Go Stargazing. Dark Skies Festival Online Yorkshire Tots blog https://yorkshiretots.com/event/dark-skies-festival- online/2021-02-13/ Virtual Dark Skies Festival York Mumbler blog https://york.mumbler.co.uk/event/virtual-dark-skies-festival/ 7:15pm-7.23pm – interview with Professor Carol Haswell inc. BBC Radio Tees Reach: 45,000 feature on the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales Virtual (25/01/21) Broadcast Dark Skies Festival
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 21 REPORT – FEB 2021
Yorkshire Dales named Europe's best national park with two other UK spots on the list Oh, and no doubt it's on stargazers' radars since it recently became one of the new International Daily Mirror (26/01/21) Reach 37M Dark Sky Reserves along with North York Moors. https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/uk-ireland/yorkshire-dales- named-europes-best-23383066 Circulation: 11,705 Dark Skies festival programme launch. Link to Go Stargazing The Press (26/01/21) Readership: 31,723 Value: £1,355.20 website Discover the Moon, Mars... and moths: Join in with next month's Virtual Dark Skies Festival and learn why darkness Daily Mail digital is crucial to the nation's wildlife Reach 92.6M (28/01/21) https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/escape/article- 9179059/Discover-Moon-Mars-moths-months-Virtual-Dark- Skies-Festival.html Discover the Moon, Mars... and moths: Join in with next month's Virtual Dark Skies Festival and learn why darkness This is Money is crucial to the nation's wildlife Reach 2.35M (28/01/21) https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/travel/escape/article- 9179059/Discover-Moon-Mars-moths-months-Virtual-Dark- Skies-Festival.html Discover the Moon, Mars... and moths: Join in with next month's Virtual Dark Skies Festival and learn why darkness Express Digest Reach 337,000 is crucial to the nation's wildlife (28/01/21) https://expressdigest.com/discover-the-moon-mars-and- moths-at-next-months-virtual-dark-skies-festival/ Reach for the stars THE Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks’ newly awarded International Dark Sky Darlington & Stockton Circulation: 17,345 Reserve status warrants a celestial celebration during Times (North Readership: 52,035 February’s festival, not least because many people have Yorkshire) (29/01/21) Value: £687.73 taken to walking under the night skies to help boost their wellbeing. Yorkshire’s Dark Worlds – Stargazers rejoice: the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks have been Country Walking Circulation: 32,574 Readership: 97,722 designated International Dark Sky Reserves… Yorkshire (February edition) Value: £3,647.70 already hosts an annual Dark Skies Festival, this year’s planned for 12-28 February. In the UK, where light pollution is now recognised as a statutory nuisance, the Institute of Lighting Professionals has published detailed guidance for avoiding light ‘leakage’ and Positive News Circulation: 40,000 Readership: 120,000 simple steps such as shielding the tops of streetlights are (February edition) Value: £3,200.40 starting to take effect. The Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors national parks were, in November, named international dark sky reserves. Dark prospects for parks - and they really couldn't be happier. The Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Countryside (February Circulation: 34,487 Readership: 103,461 Parks have been designated International Dark Sky edition) Value: £467.28 Reserves, joining an exclusive worldwide family of the best places to see the stars. Yorkshire’s Dark Worlds – Stargazers rejoice: the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks have been Country Walking Circulation: 32,574 designated International Dark Sky Reserves, joining an Readership: 97,722 (February edition) Value: £1,215.90 exclusive global family of Dark Sky Places. Yorkshire already hosts an annual Dark Skies Festival, this year’s is planned for 12-28th February darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk Reach for the stars – Nature at Night is the theme for this North East Living Circulation: 5,300 year’s Dark Skies Festival across Yorkshire’s national parks Readership: 15,000 (February edition) Value: £2,054.70 where a walk will leave you awestruck and mindful (article by Amanda Brown)
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 22 REPORT – FEB 2021
Yorkshire Living (West Reach for the stars – Nature at Night is the theme for this Yorkshire and Circulation: 15,000 year’s Dark Skies Festival across Yorkshire’s national parks Readership: 40,500 Yorkshire/Harrogate) Value: £1,056.30 where a walk will leave you awestruck and mindful (article by (February edition) Amanda Brown) Front cover pic Starry nights – Shining a light on Yorkshire’s Dark Skies Then 9 page article The Stars are coming out – February will Circulation: 16,326 see our eyes on the sky as Yorkshire’s National Parks Yorkshire Life Readership: 48,978 celebrate the stars at Dark Skies Festivals. We meet people (February edition) Value: £14,235.20 and £3,616.20 who are inspired by life after dark – and see what’s on offer to all Then Things are looking up – 2 page article on coastal perspective Arts & Books - Night sky The wonders of the night sky will be brought into the nation's living rooms from February 12-28 Yorkshire Post Circulation: 21,187 Readership: 65,451 courtesy of a virtual Dark Skies Festival programme created (30/01/21) Value: £4,225.08 by the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Park Authorities together with Go Stargazing. Darlington & Stockton Reaching for the stars with the 2021 Dark Skies Festival Times (digital Reach 37.3K https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/1904163 31/01/21) 4.reaching-stars-2021-dark-skies-festival/ Star-studded line-up for Dark Skies Festival - THE festival, which has gone online this year in the light of current travel Craven Herald & Circulation: 8,624 restrictions, takes place from February 12 to 28 with the Pioneer (28/01/21) Readership: 25,872 North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks, Print Value: £3,326.40 together with Go Stargazing, lining-up a host of experts to help bring the event into people’s homes. The night sky: Astronomer Martin Lunn tells us what to look out for in February * Take a virtual trip into the Yorkshire Dales with the annual dark skies festival, which this year because of the coronavirus pandemic will be staged virtually, Craven Herald (digital) from February 12 to February 28. The North York Moors and Reach 182K (31/01/21) Yorkshire Dales national parks, together with Go Stargazing, have lined-up a host of experts to help bring the event into people’s homes. For full details on the Virtual Dark Skies Festival programme go to www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk BBC Radio York Reach 28,000 Dark Skies Festival featured 12:46-12:47pm (29/01/21) Broadcast Explore the stars above England's national parks at virtual Lonely Planet (digital( dark skies festivals Reach 4M (01/02/21) https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/virtual-dark-skies- festival-england Starry nights (events) – In December, the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks were designated Saga magazine Circulation: 217,865 Readership: 653,595 International Dark Sky Reserves… And from 12-28 February, (February edition) Value: £9,012.15 the two parks will be celebrating their new protected status with their sixth Dark Skies Festival. One page article about the Virtual Dark Skies Festival - The full virtual Dark Skies Festival programme is now online and includes sessions featuring some familiar local faces such as Esk Valley News Dean Waters from the university of York, astronomer Richard (February edition) Darn and Helmsley photographer Steve Bell. Plenty of events are aimed at families and might also be good for home schooling opportunities. Discover nocturnal wildlife or venture into space during virtual On Magazine digital dark skies festival https://www.on- (02/02/21) magazine.co.uk/news/virtual-dark-skies-festival-yorkshire/
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 23 REPORT – FEB 2021
On the look out for this month’s snow moon. Take a virtual trip into the Yorkshire Dales with the annual dark skies Craven Herald & Circulation: 8,624 festival, which this year will be staged virtually. The North Readership: 25,872 Pioneer (04/02/21) Value: £3,394.44 York Moors and Yorkshire Dales national parks, together with Go Stargazing, have lined up a host of events to help bring the event into people’s homes. BBC Radio York Make a difference bulletin about Dark Skies Festival 14:43- Reach 28,000 (04/02/21) Broadcast 14:45 Richard Morrison the arts column. Turn off the lights – this ‘night blight’ means we can’t see the stars. : All of which are reasons to welcome what will happen in the next fortnight. Five of our national parks (Cumbria, Northumberland, North Circulation: 399,672 York Moors, Yorkshire Dales and South Downs) are The Times (05/02/21) Readership: 1,199,016 simultaneously holding Dark Skies Festivals. Also talks about Value: £16,362.39 NYM/Dales recent designations, Star Count. Includes link to Festival website. Digital article https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/turn-off-the- lights-this-night-blight-means-we-cant-see-the-stars- vzvtw7p78 VIRTUAL EVENTS: HOW TO GET YOUR CULTURE FIX AT HOME Yorkshire Dark Skies Festival Lockdown means Country & Town astronomy lovers can’t travel to Yorkshire for its annual Dark + mention in weekly House (digital Skies Festival this February – but instead they’re being enewsletter 05/02/21) invited to marvel at the wonders of the universe from home. https://www.countryandtownhouse.co.uk/culture/best-virtual- events-tutorials/ Reach for the stars – Nature at Night is the theme for this year’s Dark Skies Festival across Yorkshire’s national parks, The Northern Echo Circulation: 21,498 where the heavens above can leave you awestruck and Readership: 64,494 (06/02/21) Value: £7,861.12 mindful. The Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks’ newly-awarded International Dark Sky Reserve status warrants a celestial celebration during February’s festival… Three page article in The Magazine: Stars in their eyes – The Dark Skies Festival returns next week in a virtual guise and Circulation: 21,817 comes at an exciting, and important, time for stargazers in Yorkshire Post Readership: 65,451 Yorkshire. Snippet in Country Week – Night Skies (06/02/21) Value: £17,919.60 And £369.90 https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/lifestyle/staycation/dark- skies-festival-makes-virtual-return-we-look-why-exciting-time- stargazing-yorkshire-3126044?amp The Hot list – Starry eyed If you don’t live somewhere Circulation: 1,424,232 untouched by light pollution, the Virtual Dark Skies Festival Metro and Metro Readership: 4,272,696 could be your best way to gaze at the heavens. The North Scotland (08/02/21) Value: £7,881.75 and £1,379.25 York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks, together with Go Stargazing, have lined up a host of experts… Escape Hot List: Flavours of Italy and UK attractions Metro digital Reach https://www.metro.news/escape-hot-list-flavours-of-italy-and- (08/02/21) uk-attractions/2326030/ Bored with staying in? Go outside, look up and celebrate our The Argus (Brighton) Circulation: 10,581 Readership: 31,743 wonderful dark skies (focus on South Downs Dark Skies (09/02/21) Value: £2,570.49 Festival, with small mention of North York Moors) BBC Radio York Reach 28K Dark Skies Festival feature from 10:49am-10.50am (09/02/21) Plenty to see in the night sky with the online Dales dark skies (11/02/21) (digital) festival thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/19082123.plenty-see- Bradford Telegraph & Reach 1.3M night-sky-online-dales-dark-skies-festival/ Argus www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/19082128.plenty-see-night-sky- Ilkley Gazette Reach 30K online-dales-dark-skies-festival/ Keighley News Reach 155K https://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/19082126.plenty-see-night- Craven Herald & Pioneer Reach 170K sky-online-dales-dark-skies-festival/ https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/19074407.plenty-see-night- sky-online-dales-dark-skies-festival/
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 24 REPORT – FEB 2021
Dark Skies Festival feature from 14:50-14.51 (11/01/21) and BBC Radio York 9:46am and 12:45 (12/02/21) (11/02/21), 12/02/21 Reach 28K Dark Skies Festival feature at 8:45am, 10:47 and from 12:46- And (14/02/21) 12.52 Also mentioned on BBC Radio Leeds on 12/02/21 at 13:13 Dream holidays on our doorstep In December 2020, both the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors National Parks Waitrose Weekend Circulation: 347,000 Readership: 1,990,000 were accredited as Dark Sky Reserves - an initiative to (11/02/21) Value: £17,592 reduce the glow of street lights and engage local communities in astro tourism. This virtual Dark Skies Festival is the perfect way to travel from home this half term https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activity-and- Daily Telegraph Reach 30.3M adventure/virtual-dark-skies-festival-perfect-way-travel-home- (12/02/21) half-term/ https://uk.style.yahoo.com/virtual-dark-skies-festival-perfect- 105928735.html 29 fantastic activities for the February 2021 half term holidays - Sky at night What: Enjoy a heavenly programme of discovery for stargazers of all ages at this year’s Virtual Dark Skies Festival, as North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks team up with a host of experts to bring the wonders of The School Run the night sky into your home. Discover how bats use echoes
(February) to find their prey, pose questions to an astronomer as you watch live pictures of the moon, and be amazed as you learn what life might be like for astronauts on a mission to Mars. Need to know: Many events are free, although a small charge may apply for some. Book in advance. https://www.theschoolrun.com/february-half-term-family- learning-activities What to do keep the kids occupied in half term lockdown!? Here are 10 handy ideas 1. Stargaze The beautiful North York Moors National Park makes up part of our area and under normal circumstances, the call of the wild would see many families heading to the countryside. Gazette Live Reach 710K This year the popular Dark Skies festival has gone virtual and (13/02/21) organisers have come up with lots of things to see and do from home - from gazing at the wonders of the night sky to spotting wildlife. You can find out more here. https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids- news/what-keep-kids-occupied-half-19796282 When the night is darkest, the stars shine Light pollution is Circulation: 260,661 ruining our enjoyment of a profound natural spectacle. Dark sky parks can help us reconnect with our deepest human The Sunday Telegraph Readership: 781,983 Value: £32,818.45 traditions. Side column on Virtual Dark Skies Festival (14/02/21) Digital version: Reach 30.3M https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/life/ultimate-guide-dark- sky-stargazing/ Craven Herald & Circulation: 8,624 Readership: 25,872 Reach for the stars as festival goes virtual Pioneer (11/02/21) Value: £858.06 Photograph of the Milky Way wins park competition (South Yorkshire Post Circulation: 21,817 Downs National Park’s astrophotography competition). The Readership: 65,451 (16/02/21) Value: £4,299.06 North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales have both been designated Dark Skies Reserves. Dark Skies Festival feature – interview with Neil from Go BBC Radio York Reach 28K Stargazing from 8:21-8:27 and recap 11:45-11:52 and 16:17- (17/02/21) 16:23 BBC Radio Tees Dark Skies Festival feature –9:48-9.50 Reach 45K (17/02/21)
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 25 REPORT – FEB 2021
Clear skies ahead – The North York Moors and Yorkshire Circulation: 39,829 Dales were recently awarded International Dark Sky Reserve Country Life (17/02/21) Readership: 119,487 status—and are celebrating by taking part in their sixth Dark Value: £570.36 Skies Festival (alongside other National Parks around the UK), albeit virtually BBC Radio Tees Dark Skies Festival feature with Go Stargazing (Neil Reach 45K (18/02/21) Sanders) 8:25-8:30am Family Fun – Have a night-time family adventure: This year’s Tesco Magazine Circulation: 1,934,503 Readership: 5,803,509 Dark Skies Festival is all about nocturnal wildlife. Events are (February) Value: £92,061.90 being held on the NYM, YD and South Downs 가상 밤하늘 축제가 열리는 영국의 국립공원 (A national park Lonely Planet Korean Reach 10K (22/02/21) in the UK for the Virtual Night Sky Festival) https://lonelyplanet.co.kr/magazine/articles/AI_00003609
Appendix 3: Virtual Dark Skies Festival 2021 – Survey – If you would like a copy of the survey report please contact us.
Appendix 4: Facebook location stats:
The number of people talking The number of people about the Page by user age and who had any content gender. This number is an from your Page or estimate. about your Page enter their screen screen, grouped by age and gender. This number is an estimate. Women Women 54% 57% People Engaged People Reached Men Men 44% 41%
People Engaged People Reached People Country People Engaged Country Reached United Kingdom 13,281 United Kingdom 615,066 United States of America 3,213 United States of America 447,970 Canada 304 Canada 54,039 Bangladesh 300 South Africa 50,173 Ireland 167 Nigeria 26,818 India 158 India 25,612 Nigeria 153 New Zealand 20,910 Germany 123 Ireland 13,183 South Africa 122 Kenya 11,854 Italy 103 Germany 8,004 Philippines 100 Australia 7,811 New Zealand 71 Philippines 7,538 France 66 Ghana 6,854 Mexico 61 Ethiopia 6,551 DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 26 REPORT – FEB 2021
Australia 59 Zambia 6,050 Spain 58 France 5,206 Denmark 53 Pakistan 4,440 Portugal 52 Malawi 4,352 Greece 50 Botswana 4,319 Poland 50 Uganda 4,288 Romania 48 Netherlands 4,272 Netherlands 42 United Arab Emirates 4,012 Belgium 39 Isle of Man 3,766 Brazil 39 Sweden 3,603 Kenya 39 Italy 3,492 Malaysia 36 Poland 3,475 Sweden 34 Denmark 3,121 Peru 33 Bangladesh 3,058 Bulgaria 32 Spain 3,047 Ghana 31 Malta 2,991 Pakistan 30 Zimbabwe 2,678 Uganda 28 Greece 2,638 Hungary 26 Belgium 2,617 Finland 24 Saudi Arabia 2,571 Trinidad and Tobago 20 Lesotho 2,465 Egypt 20 Mexico 2,278 Ethiopia 20 Romania 2,267 Thailand 19 Egypt 2,140 Norway 16 Czech Republic 1,903 Japan 16 Switzerland 1,682 Colombia 16 Norway 1,666 Zambia 16 Hungary 1,638 Austria 15 Trinidad and Tobago 1,623 Czech Republic 15 Portugal 1,576 Cyprus 14 Finland 1,554 Switzerland 0 Malaysia 0 People City People Engaged City Reached London 413 London 27,832 Leeds 190 Leeds 9,085 Manchester 176 Newcastle upon Tyne 7,982 Birmingham 152 Lagos, Nigeria 7,722 Newcastle upon Tyne 145 Nairobi, Kenya 7,650 Sheffield 130 Manchester 7,447 Bristol 122 Birmingham 7,315 Glasgow 121 Pretoria, South Africa 7,115 Stoke-on-Trent 115 New York, NY, US 6,853 Liverpool 115 Auckland, New Zealand 6,512 Nottingham 115 Sheffield 6,357 Bradford 115 Bradford 6,258 Dhaka, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh 103 Bristol 6,214
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 27 REPORT – FEB 2021
York 94 Toronto, ON, Canada 5,311 Edinburgh 83 York 5,175 Cardiff 73 Liverpool 4,829 Preston 72 Kingston upon Hull 4,794 Kingston upon Hull 69 Nottingham 4,657 Derby 67 Durban, South Africa 4,407 Durham 66 Glasgow 4,372 Belfast 64 Houston, TX, US 4,358 Swindon 63 Chicago, IL, US 4,282 Norwich 63 Accra, Ghana 4,224 Barnsley 63 Stoke-on-Trent 4,019 Swansea 62 Cape Town, South Africa 4,011 Coventry 61 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 3,893 Brighton and Hove 60 Lusaka, Zambia 3,671 Southampton 60 Middlesbrough 3,604 Telford 59 Kampala, Uganda 3,539 Stockport 58 Edinburgh 3,484 Sunderland 57 Johannesburg, South Africa 3,473 Leicester 55 Dublin, Ireland 3,360 Scarborough 55 Los Angeles, CA, US 3,287 Aberdeen 54 Cardiff 3,177 Rajshahi, Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh 54 Darlington 3,168 Northampton 54 Stockport 3,098 Wolverhampton 53 Austin, TX, US 3,028 Darlington 53 Sunderland 3,024 Milton Keynes 51 Gaborone, Botswana 2,945 Richmond 51 San Antonio, TX, US 2,895 Bournemouth 50 Derby 2,865 Chelmsford 49 Barnsley 2,802 Portsmouth 49 Coventry 2,794 Harrogate 49 Leicester 2,788 Doncaster 49 Southampton 2,762 Pontefract 0 Swindon 0 Salford 0 Durham 0 Plymouth 0 Bolton 0 Language Your followers Preston 0 English (UK) 50,689 Doncaster 0 People English (US) 25,994 Language Reached Polish 292 English (US) 860,599 Spanish 227 English (UK) 505,624 French (France) 191 French (France) 8,316 Italian 141 German 7,258 German 132 Polish 6,883 Romanian 107 Spanish 5,842 Portuguese (Brazil) 101 Italian 3,720 Arabic 94 Dutch 3,590
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 28 REPORT – FEB 2021
Dutch 93 Swedish 2,630 Spanish (Spain) 89 Romanian 2,497 Portuguese (Portugal) 78 Danish 2,307 Hungarian 65 Greek 2,194 Welsh 62 Portuguese (Brazil) 2,179 Greek 59 Arabic 2,103 Czech 56 Spanish (Spain) 1,926 English (Pirate) 46 Hungarian 1,756 Lithuanian 43 Hindi 1,628 Thai 40 Portuguese (Portugal) 1,584 Swedish 33 Czech 1,437 Bulgarian 33 French (Canada) 1,373 Croatian 28 Afrikaans 1,196 Danish 25 Bulgarian 1,095 Russian 24 Russian 1,067 Turkish 23 Bengali 1,012 Traditional Chinese (Taiwan) 22 Finnish 996 Slovak 21 Lithuanian 942 Indonesian 20 Norwegian (bokmal) 873 Norwegian (bokmal) 18 Slovak 857 Simplified Chinese (China) 18 Thai 769 Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong) 17 Turkish 709 Dutch (Belgium) 16 Indonesian 655 Filipino 14 Welsh 633 Japanese 14 Swahili 558 Malay 14 Filipino 493 Vietnamese 14 English (Pirate) 433 Finnish 12 Dutch (Belgium) 413 French (Canada) 11 Vietnamese 408 Serbian 11 Japanese 401 English (India) 10 Simplified Chinese (China) 398 Slovenian 9 Malay 391 Latvian 8 Croatian 372 Bengali 7 Urdu 360 Macedonian 7 am_ET 292 my_MM 277 Slovenian 267 Traditional Chinese (Taiwan) 0
Dark Skies Festival Facebook Page. People Reached People Country Reached United Kingdom 28,528 United States of America 6,130 India 1,275
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 29 REPORT – FEB 2021
Canada 749 Australia 649 Philippines 341 South Africa 328 Germany 292 Ireland 259 Mexico 226 Italy 217 Pakistan 204 Bangladesh 188 Romania 168 Poland 163 France 146 Morocco 139 New Zealand 136 Greece 136 Brazil 105 Kenya 104 Bulgaria 102 Malaysia 91 Sri Lanka 91 Spain 89 Belgium 88 Portugal 88 Netherlands 88 United Arab Emirates 83 Nigeria 81 Hungary 74 Sweden 72 Egypt 70 Nepal 66 Austria 60 Tunisia 58 Denmark 55 Czech Republic 55 Thailand 54 Puerto Rico 44 Slovakia 41 Singapore 40 Zambia 40 Switzerland 39 Lithuania 38 People City Reached London 721 Leeds 537 York 508
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 30 REPORT – FEB 2021
Newcastle upon Tyne 442 Bradford 433 Skipton 287 Hawes 286 Sheffield 244 Leyburn 241 Manchester 238 Birmingham 233 Harrogate 230 Bristol 225 Richmond 222 Kingston upon Hull 210 Scarborough 199 Nottingham 194 Glasgow 190 Sunderland 185 Blandford Forum 182 Darlington 174 Liverpool 170 Middlesbrough 157 Melbourne, VIC, Australia 154 Edinburgh 151 Stockton-on-Tees 147 Durham 147 Stoke-on-Trent 146 Barnsley 143 Selby 138 Gateshead 134 Preston 129 Bangalore, Karnataka, India 128 Lancaster 125 Doncaster 122 Carlisle 121 Cardiff 120 Sydney, NSW, Australia 117 Southampton 115 Brighton and Hove 113 Cambridge 106 Norwich 105 Blackpool 104 Wrexham 100 Northallerton 98 Leicester 0 Huddersfield 0 Derby 0 People Language Reached
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 31 REPORT – FEB 2021
English (UK) 21,706 English (US) 18,505 Spanish 452 French (France) 391 Polish 307 German 262 Italian 245 Greek 127 Romanian 126 Portuguese (Brazil) 109 Hungarian 90 Spanish (Spain) 89 Portuguese (Portugal) 79 Bulgarian 77 Dutch 76 French (Canada) 73 Arabic 68 Czech 53 Swedish 49 Russian 42 Thai 38 Slovak 37 Danish 34 Lithuanian 33 Croatian 29 Bengali 28 Hindi 21 English (Pirate) 19 Slovenian 18 Turkish 17 Welsh 17 Dutch (Belgium) 16 Vietnamese 16 Finnish 15 Malay 13 Traditional Chinese (Taiwan) 13 Serbian 13 Latvian 13 Indonesian 12 Tamil 10 Macedonian 9 Malayalam 9 Simplified Chinese (China) 9 Marathi 8 Ukrainian 8 Afrikaans 0
DARK SKIES FESTIVAL 32 REPORT – FEB 2021