The mindful concept of dusking and a new observatory will be among the star turns during February’s Dark Skies Festival.

As well as opening its new state-of-the-art observatory, the North York Moors National Park will also be introducing people to the wellbeing concept of dusking during this year’s festival, which runs from February 13 to March 1.

Dusking is an ancient Dutch ritual in which people would sit together before lighting any lamps and mindfully watch the day fade into darkness at twilight, marking the daily transition from work to rest.

At this year’s festival, which showcases the International Dark Sky Reserves of both the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks, Dutch author and poet, Marjolijn van Heemstra, will help introduce the concept of dusking to the UK as part of her work to revive the ritual and alter negative perceptions associated with night time approaching into a more positive experience.

The Milky Way on the moors (photo: Steve Bell) and inset, Marjolijn van Heemstra.

placeholder image — The Milky Way on the moors (photo: Steve Bell) and inset, Marjolijn van Heemstra.

Marjolijn will be playing a sound recording she’s created, combining a mix of music and narrative explaining how twilight is a calming constant when life is full of light and noise, to encourage people to sit in stillness and observe how the world blends together at dusk and seems bigger once darkness falls.

Over in the Yorkshire Dales, as well as perennial favourites such as the star party at Keld with Richard Darn, other new events include an evening at the Maulds Meaburn Village Institute near Appleby.

Here, the Eden Valley and Penrith Astronomy Group will share the images of a fireball camera, one of only a handful of such cameras in northern Britain, which has been installed on the building to capture celestial happenings.

New event venues include The Green Howards Museum in Richmond where the Reeth Informal Astronomy Group will be sparking a lifelong passion for the stars and the night sky among budding astronomers; while boutique hotel Yorebridge House in Wensleydale, will present an evening of guided stargazing and a supper around a bonfire.

New observatory at Danby on the North York Moors.

For those keen to have the magical and sensory-rich experience of walking under a truly dark sky, there are guided walks from beauty spots like Malham and Kettlewell in the Yorkshire Dales.

There’s plenty for families and creative types too, with a starry night-themed needle felting day and a Tetrapak printed images workshop with Hester Cox, both at the Dales Countryside Museum.

Vicky Burton, Marketing Officer at the North York Moors National Park commented: “In a similar way to how the wellbeing benefits of swimming outdoors are now well established, there’s growing awareness that spending time outside in natural darkness can help us too, whether it’s the way darkness can calm busy minds, improve moods, or simply evoke a sense of wonderment at the sight of a starry sky.

“This year’s Festival reflects this, with events designed to guide people and allow them to safely experience just how powerful it can be to spend time under a truly dark sky.”

VIsit www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk for more.