Dark Skies 2025

Building on the success of 2024, Dark Skies will be back in 2025! 

This community event at Hertford Castle celebrates the night skies by switching off artificial lights to allow the stars to be seen without glare or local upward light. Groups of experts and enthusiasts, including LAPD Lighting Design, The University of Hertfordshire: Bayfordbury Observatory and the Hertford Astronomy Group, will come together to raise awareness of the effects of lighting at night on humans and the surrounding ecology with an evening of stargazing, educational talks and activities including a mobile planetarium!  

The event will have limited lighting, and therefore a proportionate cap on visitor numbers is necessary for the benefit and safety of those in attendance. 

Ticket Prices
General Admission: £2
General Admission plus Planetarium: £4

Tickets will be available in due course. 

Alongside the event, BEAM will be showing a film about light pollution followed by a related talk between 3-6pm. 

The chosen film is "THE CITY DARK" - a feature documentary about light pollution and the disappearing night sky, which premiered at the 2011 South by Southwest Film Festival. After moving to New York City from rural Maine, filmmaker Ian Cheney asks a simple question “Do we need the stars?”. Featuring stunning astrophotography and a cast of eclectic scientists, philosophers, historians and lighting designers, the film is the definitive story of light pollution and the disappearing stars.

The film will be followed by a related talk by lighting designer Simon Thorp, from LAPD Lighting, who will be providing further insight into the effects of artificial light at night on our surrounding ecology and the steps we can take to minimise our impact.

Tickets for the film and talk at BEAM will be available here shortly.

For more information on DarkSky UK please visit the official website here. 

Important Event Information:

Location

Hertford Castle, Castle Street, SG14 1HR

Event Entry 

• Due to the nature of this event, the pedestrian gates to the Castle grounds will be closed to the public from 4pm.

• Ticket holders are invited to arrive by foot from 4.45pm via the main pedestrian gate located at The Wash, next to Weatherspoons and BEAM.

• Last entry for ticket holders is strictly 6:30pm. After this time the pedestrian gates will be shut for public safety.

• Please note there is no vehicle access or parking onsite. 

• You are encouraged to bring your own outdoor seating and blankets, as this event is primarily outdoors.

• Suitable warm clothing is advised.

• There will be a food vendor on site serving hot food and drinks.

• We ask that no buggies are brought onto site for safety.

• During the event there will be a specific time period where the lights will be turned off. Security, St John's Ambulance and Council Officers will be monitoring the grounds for your welfare.

• Walk ways will be suitably lit for your safety.

Travelling to the Event

Hertford Town Council declared a Climate Emergency in July 2023 and has committed to taking action to protect human health and our natural world to the maximum extent its powers allow. We therefore encourage people to come to our events by public or active transport. The two Hertford railway stations, Hertford North and Hertford East, are a short walk from the Castle, and bus services are available to the Wash and Hertford bus station. Please visit National Rail for live train times and Intalink for bus routes.

Parking 

There is no parking at Hertford Castle (including disabled) but there are a number of public car parks close to the Castle. Please click here to download a map of the local car parks.

Amenities 

Toilets are located to the side of the main lawn on the footpath by the Ashley Webb Shelter.  

Disabled toilets & baby changing facilities are available inside the castle, please speak to a volunteer for access.

First aid will be provided by St John's Ambulance and will be located by the Ashley Webb shelter.

Dogs are welcome, however they must be kept on a lead at all times and we kindly ask that dog waste is picked up and put in the bins provided.

The nearest Changing Places toilet is located in the foyer area of BEAM, The Wash. There is step free access from the main entrance to the Changing Places. Please be advised that the Changing Places does not have a permanent attendant. For further information please get in tough HERE.

Ticket Terms and Conditions

Tickets are non refundable and valid for the stated venue and date only. Tickets can not be re-issued and substitute tickets will not be acceptable.
Please visit BEAM for T&Cs specific to the film ticket.

Photography will be taken at this event and will be used for promotional purposes. To view our privacy policy please visit www.hertford.gov.uk