A nationwide Star Count has revealed that half of Oxfordshire is suffering from severe light pollution and only four per cent of us are able to enjoy truly dark skies.

CPRE, the countryside charity, asked people to count stars from their garden or window as part of its annual nationwide star count in February.

Data was compared to 2020 to see whether lockdown had an impact and to be used for vital lobbying efforts for darker skies.

Results showed that stars have been more visible during the pandemic because night-time light pollution has fallen with the closure of shops, restaurants and pubs.

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However, this was not the case across the whole of Oxfordshire.

Keen astronomer Mary McIntyre, a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, took several pictures of star trails across the sky in Tackley.

She said: “I saw the result of the Star Count and I think it great news that some parts of the county have seen an improvement in light pollution.

“However, it’s also really sad that other parts are still suffering with so much excess light.

"In those areas that have improved, it shows us that we don't need as much light at night as we've been using. We really need to keep working at making this better and that means commercial businesses and home-owners should be thinking about what light they really need and therefore what they can do to reduce the impact their outdoor lighting has on the surrounding area.”

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The findings were released during International Dark Skies Week.

There are two Dark Sky Discovery Sites in Oxfordshire – the Rollright Stones in West Oxfordshire and Oxford's South Park.

See: https://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk/dark-sky-discovery-sites/map.html

CPRE Oxfordshire director Helen Marshall added: “Seeing a proper starry sky is magical and awe-inspiring, but light pollution can be a big issue for humans and wildlife, disrupting natural sleep and behaviour patterns.  

“The good news is that simple steps can make a big difference, including making sure lighting is kept to a minimum and properly angled downwards. 

“South Oxfordshire District Council has recently agreed a policy to make preserving dark skies a key planning consideration, and we hope our other local authorities will follow suit.”