Dark Sky Certification

Recently we sought the views of our membership via the Facebook page on whether the community would be in favour of applying for the status of ‘Urban Night Sky Place’ through the International Dark Sky Association. The Friends have been approached by a member of the association who lives locally and who has advised that Blythe Hill Fields would be an ideal park for such a designation, since it has no interior street lamps and is already a popular hilltop astronomy site.

The results of the Facebook poll was:

• Yes I would support this - 90 votes

• No I would not support this - 2 votes

• I am unsure - 1 vote

Two comments were received. One was a comment in general support and one questioned if torches could still be used when walking in the fields at night - which is a definite yes.

As the response has been overwhelming positive the Friends and association representative will now put the proposal to Lewisham Council and Glendale Services. There is a £180 admin fee and signage to be organised and paid for which we will now look to fund.

To reiterate, no infrastructure would be changed in the park currently, but a ‘lighting management plan’ would need to be written to ensure that any lighting added to the park in the future would adhere to ‘dark sky’ principles (eg be shielded, point downwards and use wildlife-friendly light bulbs). Signage would provide information on astronomy and dark-sky lighting in the park. How best to do this would need to be discussed because the much anticipated new signage for the Fields signage is too far progressed to include the dark sky info, should the community decide to proceed.

More detail on the proposal can be found here: https://bit.ly/BHF-unsp

The Facebook poll can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/blythehillfields/permalink/10159656581287146/

We understand that Lewisham Cllr Sophie McGeevor, Brockley Ward Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, has provided a letter of support, a copy of which is here: https://bit.ly/DSL-SM

If you aren’t on Facebook but have a comment on this proposal please email us here.

Thanks,

The Friends of Blythe Hill Fields