Friends of the lake District are running a pilot project called See the Stars, funded by the Lake District Sustainable Development Fund.

The project aims to interest people in the night sky and raise awareness of how light pollution is spoiling our view of the stars, as well as wasting energy and money.

Take part in Star Count Week - 20-27 January 2012
Join us counting stars in Orion for a national survey to help map how light pollution is threatening our beautiful dark skies.

Keswick See The Stars Survey
In November we ran a survey in the Keswick area to see where dark skies can be found or if light pollution is an issue. If you live around Keswick, you can take part online: Click here to take survey.

You can also pick up a paper copy of the survey from Keswick Town Council between 9 am and 1 pm and return it there too.

If you want to receive a copy of the survey by email, than contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Star Gazing Guide
As part of the project, we have produced a Star Gazing Guide for Beginners, which has simple maps of the night sky to help guide you around. Download the Star Gazing Guide here.

Read more about light pollution here.

For more information about energy saving lighting see the Energy Saving Trust website www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.

In October we ran the first Dark Sky Beer Festival, at Wainwright's Inn, Chapel Stile, Langdale, featuring local Cumbrian dark beers, and stargazing advice from members of Kendal's Eddington Astronomical Society.

If you want to find out more about future See the Stars events, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Ginger Bakers Spicy Star Biscuits
Make our latest Cakes for the Lakes recipe - Ginger Bakers Spicy Star Biscuits, and help fundraise for the Lake District landscapes. Created to celebrate Star Count Week - 20-27 January 2012, these ginger, cinnamon and golden syrup biscuits are the perfect thing for a cold night's stargazing! See the biscuit making process on our Facebook page here.
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