Volunteers are needed to help rewild the night sky by taking part in a star count.

From February 17-24, the Countryside Charity (formerly known as CPRE) are encouraging people to record how clear their view of the night sky is.

Last year saw thousands of people took part in the family-friendly activity, which doesn’t require any specialist telescopes or binoculars.

The group is also asking those interested to become citizen scientists and count the number of stars they can see in the Orion constellation.

An interactive map showing where the light pollution is most serious will be created with the data collected and will allow the charity to work with local councils and others to decide what to do about it.

Light pollution not only limits views of the night sky, but also disrupts wildlife’s natural patterns by interrupting natural rhythms including migration, reproduction and feeding patterns.

Man-made light is known to cause confusion to migrating birds, often with fatal outcomes, and many of us will have heard birds singing late into the night in trees lit by a streetlight. 

Research from 2022 found that severe light pollution, defined as being able to see 10 or fewer stars with the naked eye, had continued to fall after peaking in 2020, when 61% of participants reported seeing 10 stars or fewer, severe light pollution fell to 51% in 2021 and continued its slide this year, to 49%.

You can sign up to take part in the Star Count here: https://www.cpre.org.uk/what-we-care-about/nature-and-landscapes/dark-skies/star-count-2023/