“My Best Day In” – a Dalesman reader’s lockdown diary – February edition
February’s front cover courtesy of Robert Fuller
Sometimes, I lie awake at night and think about things before falling asleep again. Last night I wondered why I always felt so much better after having read The Dalesman.
It is simple really – we subscribe to a daily broadsheet and there is nothing but bad news – the Covid crisis – all doom and gloom, sadness and despair and, just occasionally, a happy titbit about someone whose pet has done something extraordinary.
And then The Dalesman drops through the door and there is a promise of a treat of a whole series of articles that are usually full of interest and pleasure and often of humour. This month’s edition is no exception. Having read it from glossy cover to glossy cover I just felt a feeling of real happiness and elation.
Discover the Moon, Mars. and moths: Join in with next month s Virtual Dark Skies Festival and learn why darkness is crucial to the nation s wildlife
The theme of this year’s Dark Skies Festival, which runs from February 12 to 28, is Nature At Night
Experts will reveal science secrets from the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks
On Feb 18, Go Stargazing will explain what will happen with Nasa’s landing of Perseverance Rover on Mars
Dark Sky Reserve status for two national parks
Milky Way over Norber Ridge by Matt Gibson
The Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors national parks have been designated International Dark Sky Reserves.
The International Dark Sky Association has granted the status to the two parks, which cover over 3,500 square kilometres.
The announcement represents one of the largest areas in Europe to be simultaneously designated.
Both national parks, as part of a co-ordinated effort, have worked hard over several years to achieve this award, gaining support from councils, parishes, landowners, businesses and astronomical experts.
Jim Bailey, chairman of the North York Moors National Park Authority, said: â’It’s a wonderful thing to see a meteorite streak across the night sky, or to look up and appreciate the brilliance of the Milky Way.