BUSINESSES and residents across the region’s two National Parks are being urged to help protect the star quality of the skies as part of a nationwide campaign.

The North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks have joined other organisations and the Commission for Dark Skies in their support for the Big Dipper campaign.

The initiative aims to draw attention to the light pollution caused by beams emitted from powerful external LED floodlights and security lighting.

The National Parks are backing the campaign as they prepare for a number of stargazing events during this October’s half-term and the fourth joint Dark Skies Festival taking place from February 15 to March 3 2019.

In particular the Big Dipper is highlighting how property owners can help reduce the orange-white glow, which is seen above built-up areas and is increasingly spreading across the countryside, by ensuring that exterior lamps are dipped downwards rather than projected outwards.

The campaign is also backed by Sir Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal, who said: “It’s important that efforts are sustained to cut light pollution further so we can all marvel at the night sky wherever we may live. This campaign deserves wide support.”

Both National Parks, which have Dark Sky Discovery sites, have seen growth in visitor interest in stargazing and astrotourism since the first Dark Skies Festival in 2015.

Helen Dalton, destination co-ordinator for the Yorkshire Dales National Park said: “We’re keen to protect our dark skies as a beautiful natural resource which has really engaged visitor interest and importantly is also helping preserve our wildlife.”

Mike Hawtin, outdoor activity tourism officer for the North York Moors National Park added: “We’re not expecting property owners to struggle in the darkness or compromise the functionality of their lighting. “However there are situations where a single poorly installed exterior light can be seen for miles around by emitting a very powerful harsh blue-white beam which blots out views of the stars if it is angled too far outwards.

“By simply re-positioning the beam angle or ensuring lamps are on a motion sensor we can individually help reduce our contribution to light pollution.”