Tranquillity and dark skies
The Chilterns National Landscape is a tranquil place where landscape takes centre stage and stars brighten night skies.
The tranquillity of the Chilterns is shaped by the subtle interaction of many things – the folds in the landscape, ancient lanes and sunken hollows creating visual and sound breaks, the surprising lack of impact from nearby roads and rail (although vigilance is required), and the woodland and hedgerows that provide visual breaks and plentiful shelter.
This tranquillity extends from day into night, from the vistas of the landscape at our feet, to the night skies above. The Institute of Lighting Professional (ILP) categorises National Landscapes (designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty [AONBs]) as being intrinsically dark skies environments in its helpful guidance on the reduction of obtrusive lighting. Hence, the Chilterns National Landscape is a dark skies location.
Special quality: Tranquillity and dark skies
- Tranquillity
- Dark skies
- Secret corners
- A sense of remoteness
Neighbourhood Plan point – do you need additional tranquillity and dark skies policies?
The tranquillity of the Chilterns is one of its acknowledged special qualities
The relative tranquillity – and subsequent dark skies – of the Chilterns National Landscape is one of its acknowledged special qualities, referenced in the Chilterns AONB Management Plan.
Concern for the erosion of the night sky environment is not new. In 1989, the Campaign (now Commission) for Dark Skies (CfDS) was established to raise awareness of dark skies, oppose light glare, and promote best practice. Research sponsored by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and published as their ‘night blight initiative’ tracked light pollution data back to 1993. The report states that: ‘The problem is getting worse. Between 1993 and 2000 light pollution increased 24%, nationally the amount of truly dark sky in this country fell from 15% to 11%, the amount of light saturated night sky rose to 7%’.1
- Find out more about CPRE’s dark skies work and view their dark skies map
- Read CPRE’s latest Night Blight report
In 2009, the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution studied artificial lighting and the environment when considering the provision of lighting, its intensity and design. The Royal Commission concluded that: ‘Government needs to accept the fact that light, like noise and chemicals, in the wrong quantity, in the wrong place and at the wrong time can cause problems and must be addressed explicitly in policy development’.2
- Find out more about the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
The report focused on the fact that light pollution (i.e. unwanted light in the wrong place) has become one of the major unaddressed pollution problems in the UK and that ‘as a nation we do not have a good understanding of the extent of such dark-sky areas’ (2.12). The report deemed this a serious problem and offered several key recommendations. For National Parks and National Landscapes (AONBs), the recommendation was unequivocal, that ‘those responsible for the management of existing National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the equivalent National Scenic Areas in Scotland seek to eliminate unnecessary outdoor light and to better design and manage that which cannot be eliminated, and also that efforts are made to retain or create dark skies over urban areas so that people in major centres of population may have access to the night sky.’ (Report’s recommendation 6.4).
References
1 CPRE (2013) Night Blight – Reclaiming our Dark Skies, Campaign, resource and literature. See http://nightblight.cpre.org.uk/resources
2 The Royal Commission (2009) Artificial Light in the Environment. London: The Stationery Office.
Next steps
View our assessment criteria, checklist and supporting documentation to help you consider tranquillity and dark skies within your Neighbourhood Planning processes.
Our Chilterns Neighbourhood Planning Toolkit was created as part of the Chalk, Cherries and Chairs Landscape Partnership Scheme, made possible with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Published by the Chilterns Conservation Board (CCB), a Conservation Board established under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
DISCLAIMER: While every effort is made to ensure all the legal and policy references are correct, CCB always recommends that these are checked as revisions and updates will occur.
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