Star Count is almost upon us… and we’re putting Swanscombe peninsula in the spotlight

It’s time for this year’s CPRE Star Count, during which we ask you to become ‘citizen scientists’ by counting stars to help measure our dark skies.
We’re looking for counters across the county, of course, but just for now we’ll highlight a place on which we’re putting a particular focus (see what we did there?).
CPRE Kent has teamed up with the brilliant Save Swanscombe Peninsula group to present a range of events over the Star Count period of Saturday, February 26, to Sunday, March 6.
To get things under way, we’re hosting a Zoom event on Tuesday, February 22, at 7pm, during which CPRE Kent director Hilary Newport will introduce Star Count, explore the reasons behind studying the stars, explain how to take part and detail the devastating impacts of light pollution on people and wildlife alike.
The Swanscombe peninsula is home to an extraordinary range of wildlife but threatened by plans for the London Resort theme park. As part of the campaign to save the site from development, we aim to count the stars on-site and more broadly in the local area to demonstrate how much of a dark oasis the peninsula is – and how its wildlife could be affected by the blinding lights of a theme park.
The following week (beginning Tuesday, March 1) we’re asking people in the area to get involved by turning off their lights and turning up the stars.

This involves:

  • Choosing a clear night
  • Counting how many stars you can see within the constellation of Orion
  • Sharing your photos on our social-media pages with the hashtag #starcount

If you don’t know where Orion is, you can download a free CPRE Star Count family activity pack, which includes a checklist and star-finder template, here

Finally, we can all meet up in person for our Dark Skies Event on Saturday, March 5, when we will be gathering on the peninsula at 5.30pm to experience the magic of the stars, count them and just enjoy the beauty of the site.

  • To sign up to the Swanscombe Star Count and join Dr Newport’s talk on February 22, use the QR code on the above poster or click here
  • To join us for our Dark Skies Event at Botany Marshes, Northfleet, Swanscombe DA10 0PP, on March 5, phone 01233 714540 or email info@cprekent.org.uk for more information.
  • CPRE Kent and Save Swanscombe Peninsula are also working with Buglife, the RSPB and Kent Wildlife Trust in a combined effort to protect this wonderful site. To keep in touch with what we’re all doing, visit the CPRE Kent website here   

You can also follow us on Facebook:

@Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI

@CPREKent

… and on Twitter:

@sspcampaign

@CPREKent

@Buzz_dont_tweet (Buglife)

@KentWildlife (Kent Wildlife Trust)

@Natures_Voice (RSPB)

Tuesday, February 16, 2022

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