A remote Welsh island has been announced as the first dark sky sanctuary in Europe. Ynys Enlli, or Bardsey Island, off the coast of the Llyn Peninsula in north Wales, has received International Dark Sky Sanctuary certification by the International Dark Skies Association (IDA).
This means that Ynys Enlli is the first site in Europe to achieve such status. According to the executive director of the International Dark Sky Association, Ruskin Hartley, Wales is fast becoming one of the "leading nations in protecting dark skies as a precious resource that benefits people and wildlife."
International Dark Sky Sanctuaries are typically situated in very remote locations that have very few nearby threats to the quality of their dark night skies. Ynys Enlli has meet the strict criteria and joins 16 other sites worldwide, which includes Aotea Great Barrier Island in New Zealand, the Cosmic Campground in the USA and Gabriela Mistral site in Chile.
A sanctuary differs from a Dark Sky Park or Reserve because it is typically more remote. Eryri National Park is already an official International Dark Sky Reserve, with more than 2,000 square km of protected terrain, along with the Brecon Beacons National Park. The Elan Valley in mid Wales also has International Dark Sky Park status - meaning that its entire 45,000 acres are protected against light pollution, making it a sanctuary for wildlife and nature (and stargazers). An IDA International Dark Sky Reserve is described as a "public or private land possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural, heritage and/or public enjoyment".
There are plenty of smaller Dark Sky Discovery Sites across Wales too - including in Usk, Ceredigion and within the Cambrian Mountains.
Read more: The posh village with Wales' most expensive street but hardly anyone there
In response to the new status, Sian Stacey, chair of the Bardsey Island Trust said that they were all "delighted with the news". She said: "It is a huge achievement and I would like to thank all who have been involved. It’s the culmination of several years' hard work involving our own team as well as our partners across the region and beyond.
"There’s no doubt that achieving this prestigious status for Ynys Enlli will raise the profile of the island as a unique place in Wales and amongst the best in the world to appreciate the night sky. We hope it will also go a long way in securing the long-term sustainability of the island."
Ynys Enlli is located two miles of the tip of Pen Llŷn, and is accessible by a boat trip from the nearby coastal village of Aberdaron. According to experts, its location and geographical features make Enlli one of the darkest places in the UK – with the mountain on the island serving as an effective barrier, limiting light from the mainland. The closest major light pollution comes from Dublin, which is over 70 miles across the Irish Sea.
Known as 'the island of 20,000 saints' due to the Celtic and Christian monasteries established there since the 6th Century, the population of Ynys Enlli has fluctuated over the centuries. Evidence suggests it was inhabited from as early as the Bronze age. Today, it is home to a small community of residents who work the land and fish from the island. There is also a bird and field observatory, as well as ten cottages for visitors who come to escape modern life during the holiday season.
In 2019, Mari Huws became one of the wardens of Ynys Enlli and is responsible for protecting the nature reserve, working farm and bird observatory on the island. Mari has been a part of the certification process. She said: "Living here I am always in awe of the island’s beauty – and the night sky is very much a part of that. Having secured the certification, we look forward to welcoming visitors here over the coming months and years and sharing with them our unique story.
"We knew we lived in a special place, this new status confirms this, with IDSS putting Enlli firmly on the global stage. In a world that's increasingly being polluted, it's a privilege to be able to work towards protecting something that is pristine for future generations."
READ NEXT:
- Man shares what life is like living in a van in one of the most beautiful parts of Wales
- The big questions hanging over one corner of Wales after years of 'body blows'
- 'I don't want to open the windows' Life on the Cardiff street where a mysterious dust is 'always falling'
- Life in one of Wales' most multicultural streets with Welsh identity at its core
- The mixed blessing of being one of Wales' tourist hotspots
