Dark Sky Campaign recognised with National Landscape Award 

Marcia Brocklebank receiving the Robert Erith National Landscape Award on behalf of the Dedham Vale Society Dark Sky Campaign group for their successful Dark Sky Campaign to designate Thorington Street as a Dark Sky Community by the International Dark Sky Association.
Marcia Brocklebank receiving the Robert Erith National Landscape Award on behalf of the Dedham Vale Society Dark Sky Campaign group for their successful Dark Sky Campaign to designate Thorington Street as a Dark Sky Community by the International Dark Sky Association.

The Dedham Vale Dark Sky Campaign has been named as the winners of the 2026 Robert Erith National Landscape Award in recognition of its fantastic work in securing international designation for the area. 

The Robert Erith National Landscape Award, given out annually, aims to celebrate the achievements of individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to conserving and enhancing the Dedham Vale National Landscape and wider Stour Valley. 

The award is named after Robert Erith BEM TD DL, the former Chairman of the Dedham Vale National Landscape and Stour Valley Partnership, a lifelong advocate for the special landscape.   

For almost a decade, the Dark Sky Campaign, a subgroup of the Dedham Vale Society, and its dedicated volunteers have worked tirelessly to protect one of the most precious natural assets in the Dedham Vale: the night sky. 

Working together to raise awareness and educate the public, the Dark Skies Campaign has organised and has run many popular community astronomy events and school engagement, with the two professional astronomers arranging more than 100 astronomy events, reaching up to 7,000 people, from Colchester in the West to North Norfolk in the East. 

Additionally, the campaign worked with the Dedham Vale National Landscape team to produce a comprehensive lighting design guide that is now used by planners, architects and homeowners to reduce light pollution. 

To support the campaign and give it a home, the National Trust offered, rent free, the use of a large and beautiful Tudor barn, garden and adjacent field as a DarkSky Discovery Centre in the hamlet of Thorington Street in the Dedham Vale National Landscape. 

2026 saw the crowning achievement, with Thorington Street being officially designated an International DarkSky Community by DarkSky International, becoming the first such place in England to be recognised, and joins six others in the United Kingdom, three in Scotland: Orkney, Coll, and Moffatt, two in Wales: Presteigne and Gower and one in the Channel Islands, Sark. 

Marcia Brocklebank from the Dark Sky Campaign said: 

“The Dedham Vale and Stour Valley lie only an hour by train and two hours by car from the lights of London, yet their ink-black skies never fail to startle the observer.   Recognised internationally by the Dark Sky Association, the Dedham Vale Dark Sky Campaign is hugely honoured to be recognised locally by the Robert Erith National Landscape Award.” 

Robert Erith BEM TD DL, former Chairman, Dedham Vale & Stour Valley Partnership, said:

“This is the sixth awarding of the annual Robert Erith National Landscape Award and it is most richly deserved. To have achieved internationally recognised Dark Sky status so close to London is a marvellous achievement, which gives great credit to Marcia Brocklebank and all her team.” 

Simon Amstutz, Dedham Vale National Landscape Manager said: 

“The Dedham Vale Society’s Dark Sky Campaign shows what can be achieved when you bring together passionate volunteers working towards a common goal. The expertise and enthusiasm they have passed on to thousands of people has been instrumental in raising awareness of the importance of our dark skies. 

The Robert Erith National Landscape award was launched to celebrate the unsung heroes of the Dedham Vale & Stour Valley and the Dark Sky Campaign represents everything the award stands for.” 

You can find out more about the Robert Erith National Landscape Award at dedhamvale-NL.org.uk/awards. 

Marcia Brocklebank receiving the Robert Erith National Landscape Award on behalf of the Dedham Vale Society Dark Sky Campaign group for their successful Dark Sky Campaign to designate Thorington Street as a Dark Sky Community by the International Dark Sky Association.

Attendees (left to right:) Lucinda de Jasay, Paul Gallifant, Beverley McClean, William Shearer, Marcia Brocklebank, Robert Erith, Sara Erith, Fred Grosch, Mike Barrett and Simon Amstutz.