A GROUP dedicated to preserving the quality of the night sky in and around Dedham Vale has helped Boxted Parish Council improve its night sky visibility.

A member from the Dedham Vale National Landscape Dark Skies Campaign was contacted by Boxted Village parish councillor Angela McLaughlan about plans to install new lighting in the Hall car park.

At a meeting with Ms McLaughlan, parish council clerk Karen Thompson and a representative of the electrical company Property 360, campaign members Mike Barret and Nik Szymanek were able to advise about appropriate lighting.

To minimise the impact of light pollution and to help protect local wildlife, it was agreed that two lighting stanchions would be installed in front of existing trees to reduce any light spillage to Cage Lane residents.

Measures included lower-brightness LED lighting, warm-coloured temperature bulbs, downward angled lighting and the agreement that the lights would use 10-minute-timers so they would be switched off automatically when not deed.

Boxted Parish council agreed to all changes and a Property 360 electrician made the changes and installations.

Due to this, Ms McLaughlan and Ms Thompson were given the Dedham Vale Dark Sky Campaign’s inaugural Dark Sky Hero Certificate in recognition of their efforts to preserve the night skies of Boxted Village.