15/03/2023
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Many residents will have received a letter from TGDT and Crown Estate Scotland about the Dark Skies lighting improvement project that will be commencing shortly. The letter text is copied below for your reference. Members of the Cairngorms Astronomy Group and TDGT will begin a photographic survey of Tomintoul and Glenlivet in the coming weeks to identify potential areas for improvement.
"Dear Residents of Tomintoul and Glenlivet,
We need you to help us help you to keep Tomintoul and Glenlivet a special place for views of the night skies, landscapes and wildlife, for residents and visitors alike.
A lot of work has been done to make lighting in the area Dark Sky compliant, with farms, distilleries and the local authority all making efforts to ensure their lighting doesn't impact on the stunning views of the sky here. This is a key part of maintaining the Dark Sky status and failure to increase the level of compliant lighting could result in the area losing the Dark Sky status in the future. And this is why WE NEED YOU! To maintain the status we need a large percentage of the external domestic property lighting to comply with the International Dark Skies Association guidance.
We hope you will work with us as we identify areas of concern and provide support to upgrade domestic lights. And if you are thinking of replacing or adding new external lighting to your property please ensure it only shines directly downward and doesn’t spill into the night sky.
Keep an eye out for more information locally and online as we work to improve the lighting around Tomintoul. And please get in touch if you want any advice.
History of Tomintoul and Glenlivet Dark Sky Park
In November 2018 the Tomintoul and Glenlivet Cairngorms International Dark Sky Park was successfully created by Crown Estate Scotland in partnership with the Cairngorms National Park Authority. Initially this was delivered by the Tomintoul and Glenlivet Landscape Partnership and is currently overseen by the Dark Sky Group made up of members from Cairngorms Astronomy Group, Tomintoul and Glenlivet Development Trust, Crown Estate Scotland, and Cairngorms National Park.
The area was awarded the status as it is one of the best places in the Cairngorms National Park to discover the wonders of the night sky. Not only does this remote area have stunning dark skies but it also has easy access allowing everyone to enjoy a night sky brimming with stars. It is also the most northerly Dark Sky Park in the world!
Over the first years, three Dark Sky Discovery Sites were created including at the Tomintoul Gateway. Displays and exhibits have been created at the Bird Hide and Discovery Centre and lots of residents and visitors have attended dark sky related events including the Star Party which ran across a weekend in September 2022. We aim to preserve the natural darkness of the night skies in the area by promoting environmentally responsible lighting.
This will help to:
• Protect the plants and animals that depend on Earth’s daily cycle of light and dark rhythm to govern life-sustaining behaviours such as reproduction, nourishment, sleep and protection from predators.
• Promote out of season tourism by allowing visitors to experience a sky brimming with stars – a night sky that inspired science, religion, philosophy, art and literature.
• Reduce energy wastage by ensuring that outdoor lighting only illuminates the intended areas and does not overspill into the surrounding countryside or night sky."
The guide below is to help homeowners identify Dark Sky friendly lighting.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Cairngorms Astronomy Group, the Tomintoul & Glenlivet Development Trust , or Glenlivet Estate Crown Estate Scotland if you have any queries or concerns.
