The third annual Ambleside and Grasmere Big Switch Off of lights took place from 7pm, Thursday February 23.

Friends of the Lake District’s Dark Skies Cumbria project aims to highlight the amazing starscape the Lake District offers, to flag up our collective need not to take light for granted or waste it, and help to lower our collective carbon footprint.

Although cloud cover spoilt views of the stars, many businesses, organisations and residents turned off their lights, complimenting over 200 local council street lights switched off by Cumbria County Council’s lighting engineer team.

Friends of the Lake District’s Jack Ellerby, the Dark Skies Officer for Cumbria said:“Momentum is building with more people and businesses taking part each year in the Big Switch Off, to save energy and see more stars. In the two communities, I’d say 50% more lights were off this time in Ambleside than last year and 95% more across Grasmere.

“Embracing the new darker ambience were businesses like the Rothay Garden Hotel in Grasmere, and the Golden Rule Pub in Ambleside, which arranged candle-lit dining experiences, and outside in the street people carried torches.

“The Dark Skies theme is growing - with accommodation providers including telescopes in their rooms, like Victoria House, in Grasmere and The Salutation, Ambleside, who are developing two stargazing rooms on their top floors."

Friends of the Lake District asked local photographer Jonny Gios to produce a short film showcasing the Big Lighting Switch Off, he climbed Loughrigg fell early in the morning to show what could be seen in the skies without clouds!

Cumbrian communities such as Coniston, Keswick and Patterdale have shown interest in joining the Big Switch Off next year.

For more about Friends of the Lake District’s work, the Dark Skies Cumbria project, see: www.darkskiescumbria.org.uk

Jonny Gios’s film showcasing the Big Lighting Switch Off will go live on the Friends of the Lake District’s Dark Skies website shortly.