Who fancies a night-time adventure? Running until the end of March our friends at the Forestry Commission are hosting some amazing astronomy events at their forests that you and your explorers will just love!

Twinkle twinkle little star…

It’s an incredible activity for youngsters to get involved with, not only will they learn about the night sky, they will have the chance to visit some fantastic forests that have achieved an impressive Dark Sky Discovery status. With some of the darkest skies in the UK it's a must-see for any keen star spotters!  Along with BBC Sky at Night Magazine, they have produced some wonderful resources to take your stargazing to next level. Learn how to spot different formations and read their top navigation tips. For the perfect after-school activity, you can also visit their forests and find out more about why stars matter and why they can be so helpful. You can even take some terrific night-time photos and WIN a £100 worth of Amazon Vouchers!

4 fantastic forests for stargazing fun

Kielder Forest and Observatory, Northumberland

Visit the home of the UK’s most famous observatory and within the fourth largest Dark Skies Park in the world, Kielder has a wonderful line-up of stargazing events from January to March including Astronomy Photography, Aurora Nights, Family Astronomy and Night Sky Safari. Take a look here.

Hamsterley Forest, County Durham

Join an evening of stargazing and observing through large telescopes with local amateur astronomer, Neill Sanders. Hamsterley Forest has Dark Sky Discovery Status and is a brilliant spot to explore the night skies.