North Wales Island Introduced as First Darkish Sky Sanctuary in Europe

Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island), north Wales has acquired Worldwide Darkish Sky Sanctuary certification by the Worldwide Darkish Skies Affiliation (IDA). This makes Enlli the primary website in Europe to attain this standing.

Worldwide Darkish Sky Sanctuaries are usually located in a really distant location with few close by threats to the standard of its darkish evening skies. With its new designation Enlli meets strict standards and joins simply 16 different websites worldwide.

Sian Stacey, Chair of the Bardsey Island Belief stated:

“We’re delighted to announce the information of Ynys Enlli’s new standing as Worldwide Darkish Sky Sanctuary (IDSS) at the moment. It’s a enormous achievement and I wish to thank all who’ve been concerned. It’s the fruits of a number of years exhausting work involving our personal workforce in addition to our companions throughout the area and past. There’s little doubt that attaining this
prestigious standing for Ynys Enlli will elevate the profile of the island as a singular place in Wales and amongst the most effective on this planet to understand the evening sky. We hope it’s going to additionally go a good distance in securing the long-term sustainability of the island.”

Ruskin Hartley, govt director of the Worldwide Darkish-Sky Affiliation added:

“We’re happy to welcome Ynys Enlli to the rising neighborhood of darkish sky locations worldwide. With it, Wales is quick changing into one of many main nations in defending darkish skies as a treasured useful resource that advantages individuals and wildlife.”

Ynys Enlli is positioned two miles off the tip of the Llŷn Peninsula, off the coast of north Wales. Its location and geographical options make it one of many darkest locations within the UK – with the mountain on the island serving as an efficient barrier, limiting mild from the mainland. The closest main mild air pollution comes from Dublin, which is over 70 miles throughout the Irish Sea.

Often called ‘the island of 20,000 saints’ because of the Celtic and Christian monasteries established there for the reason that sixth Century, the inhabitants of Ynys Enlli has fluctuated over the centuries. Proof suggests it was inhabited from as early because the Bronze age. At the moment, it’s dwelling to a small neighborhood of residents who work the land and fish from the island. There may be additionally a Hen and Subject Observatory, in addition to ten cottages for guests who come to flee trendy life in the course of the vacation season.

A four-year programme utilizing the newest expertise was undertaken as a part of the applying to watch the standard of the evening sky on the island, to point out that it’s sufficiently darkish to qualify for the designation. The IDA additionally required a lighting administration plan and photographic proof for this certification.

Mari Huws is likely one of the Wardens on Ynys Enlli and has been a part of the certification course of.

She stated:

“Dwelling right here I’m at all times in awe of the island’s magnificence – and the evening sky could be very a lot part of that. Having secured the certification, we sit up for welcoming guests right here over the approaching months and years and sharing with them our distinctive story. We knew we lived in a particular place, this new standing confirms this, with IDSS placing Enlli firmly on the worldwide stage. In a world that is more and more being polluted, it is a privilege to have the ability to work in direction of defending one thing that’s pristine for future generations.”

The appliance acquired help from Welsh Authorities, different Darkish Sky areas in Wales together with the Brecon Beacons Nationwide Park and Eryri Nationwide Park, Aberdaron Group Council, and Pure Sources Wales in addition to mission NOS (native darkish sky mission), native astronomy associations, and Gwynedd Council.

Having secured IDSS standing, the Bardsey Island Belief now goals to proceed its work to guard the darkish skies seen from Ynys Enlli by elevating consciousness of this distinctive location in Wales, in addition to selling the significance of the darkish skies domestically and nationally. The announcement coincides with Wales Darkish Sky Week 2023.