Astronomers ask for stargazing status for Shropshire
It is beautiful by day – and now Shropshire is set to be recognised for its beauty in the dead of night.
Astronomers are campaigning to have the county classed as stargazer-friendly.
It could soon sit alongside Northumberland as a mecca for skygazers.
Astronomy buff Richard Hickman, 68, is working with the National Trust in a bid to have four sites near Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton, designated as Dark Skies Discovery sites.
The designation was given to the North East region earlier this year because of its remoteness and absence of street lights.
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Mr Hickman says those qualities are all shared by Shropshire, and reckons it could bring millions of pounds in extra tourism revenue to the region.
Official Dark Skies Discovery designation could also help protect rural areas of Shropshire from future development that would threaten to bring in light pollution.
Mr Hickman, who lives in and organises astronomy events at the Carding Mill Valley, said: "By getting the accreditation, Shropshire would become known as a place where people can come where they know the skies will be better than in a town.
"But it also means we can use it to put on more special astronomy events.
"It fits in with what the National Trust is trying to do. It has projects like this in Wales and Cornwall."
Nominated areas include car parks by the tea room in Carding Mill Valley, at the top of the Burway overlooking Townbrook Hollow, near the Shooting Box barrow and Pole Cottage.Mr
Hickman said he already had a formal letter of support from Shropshire Council.
If successful any nearby planning application, that might have an impact on the light, would have to take those sites' Dark Skies status into consideration, he said.
Mr Hickman, also a Church Stretton town councillor, moved to the area six years ago after retiring as a software engineer in St Albans, Hertfordshire.
The unspoilt view of the stars, plus encouragement from the National Trust who own the land at Carding Mill Valley, rekindled a childhood interest in astronomy. "Seeing the stars and the dark skies we get around here is spectacular," he said, "We love Shropshire, it's an amazing place to live.
"My real interest is getting other people interested in astronomy. I do about two to four events a year. They come from all over – from Worcestershire, Stoke-On-Trent, Shrewsbury, Telford. Once we got 500 people, but usually it's more like 30 to 70, often people who have never been involved with astronomy before."
His next Stars in your Skies event is on February 8 at the Carding Mill Valley tea room where Dr Alan Longstaff, a freelance astronomer working for the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, will be speaking, and telescopes will be on hand to try out.
