Page 3 - Nature Calendar Autumn Edition

Winter

Discover Durham’s Dark Skies

As the days get shorter and the nights draw in, Durham’s Top Tip
dark skies come alive. Autumn and Winter are regarded
as the best time of year to stargaze, with the clear nights The best time to go stargazing
offering wonderful views of the night sky above.
© Martin Kitching You’ll find some of the darkest skies in England in the each new moon, as only a few
is before, during and just after
Durham Dales and North Pennines AONB and UNESCO
Global Geopark, as much of the area is remote countryside stars can be seen when the
Red Grouse with very little light pollution. moon is at its brightest.

Keep your eyes peeled as you Across the North Pennines AONB you’ll find 16 official
explore the high heather Dark Sky Discovery Sites, more than any other part of the
moorlands of the Durham UK! 12 of which are located in the Durham Dales. From these sites
Dales and North Pennines Area © Gary Lintern you can see thousands of stars, distant galaxies, constellations like
of Outstanding Natural Beauty Orion, and even the Milky Way with your naked eye.
and UNESCO Global Geopark
for these fast-moving birds as Don’t miss!
they rocket skywards from
their heather hiding place. Budding astronomers can enjoy ‘out of this world’ events
throughout the year led by top astronomers at Grassholme
Observatory, the state of the art observatory found on the
banks of Grassholme Reservoir.
Greylag Goose

Derwent Waterside Park

Derwent Waterside Park and the many
reservoirs of the Durham Dales are great
bird-watching spots all year round. During
the winter months you’ll be able to spot
wonderful wildfowl including Greylag Goose
and many different types of ducks, such as Wigeon Duck
Mallard, Wigeon and Goldeneye.