Twelve enthusiastic volunteers, who live in the parish of Walford, have been out and about at night taking sky quality meter readings for the Kerne Bridge Dark Skies Project.
The green telescopes in the photograph below show where there is slight (natural) light pollution and the amber telescopes reveal areas with moderate (unnatural) light pollution. It is the first time light pollution has been measured in this way, and on this scale in Herefordshire. These readings provide a simple benchmark for the presence of dark skies and areas of light trespass (pollution).
“It’s a fantastic start to the project” says Cllr Yolande Watson, Herefordshire Councillor for Kerne Bridge who leads the project. “Having taken readings across the parish of Walford, we are now moving on to the parish of Goodrich and Welsh Bicknor – recruiting local volunteers to take sky quality meter readings in their neighbourhoods”. Volunteers will be provided with sky quality meters, training and guidance on how to use the meters and inputting data into a phone app on their mobile phone as well as receive support and mentorship from experienced volunteers.
“I can’t thank the volunteers in Walford enough. Because this project has never being done before, it has taken a real team effort to get to this stage. We have been testing and trialling the equipment since May, writing ‘how to guides’ and learning how to present the data in a way that is easy to understand.”
Even though the project is moving into another parish, volunteers in Walford aren’t resting. They are still engaged in the project – mentoring new recruits, writing a project leaflet and exploring how Walford could become a Dark Skies Community.
If you live in Goodrich & Welsh Bicknor and want to volunteer for the project, contact Yolande on yolande.watson@herefordshire.gov.uk. For more information on the Kerne Bridge Dark Skies Project: www.wyevalleysociety.org.uk/events.php. For additional information and resources on dark skies: http://www.darksky.org
