COMMUNITY UPDATE ON CONTINUUM | DARK SKIES TALKS & COMMUNITY OUTREACH @ WASPS CREATIVE STUDIOS, INVERNESS (16 July 2026)
+ STRATHNAIRN’S SKY BRIGHTNESS SURVEYS & RESULTS
Artist Gael Hillyard’s Continuum | Exhibition & Associated Dark Skies Talks (with Strathnairn’s Dr Andy McGregor & Julie Macrae as Speakers).
Artist Gael Hillyard chaired a well-attended evening of community outreach talks at Wasps Creative Studios, Inverness. This was aimed at increasing awareness, local engagement and promoting debate on ‘Dark Skies’: from Current development and challenges compromising – Dark Skies; Active works to protect – Dark Skies; and Shared experience of – Dark Skies.
Running order of Speakers:
- 01 | Gael Hillyard, Artist | FRAS Fellows Membership | The Royal Astronomical Society & FRSA RSA Fellowship
- 02 | Pauline Macrae, Chair of Highlands Astronomical Society (HAS) Highlands Astronomical Society | Highlands Astronomical Society – Astronomy Club and Group for Inverness, Dingwall, Ross-shire, and Highlands, Scotland
- 03 | Daniel Main, jointly developing a 5-year Scottish Dark Skies Campaign Scottish Dark Skies Campaign — Protecting Scotland’s Night
- 04 | Julie Macrae, Project Advisor to Strathnairn Community Council PLANNING | HC Guidance for CCs, LPPs & Community Development | Strathnairn Community
- 05 | Dr Andy McGregor, Chair of Strathnairn Stargazing Group Strathnairn Stargazing Group
Representing the local community & associated works:
Talk 04 | Recognising our Dark Skies and Valuing Darkness, was the theme of Julie’s talk. Focusing on the Highland context, and exploring the competing pressures and development opportunities aimed at addressing environmental, economic and societal needs, she looked at the resultant development planning, at a regional and national level. With this the Highlands are visibly undergoing a period of ‘transformative change’ – as perceived by many – entirely interdependent on natural capital (renewable and non-renewable resources) within the region.
However, learning from the past, we know that an equilibrium was exceeded, with natural assets over-exploited and insufficient protection of the environment; evident across peatlands, wetlands, and woodlands. With hindsight we appreciate that these natural assets – host to diverse ecosystems and supporting biodiversity – were not sufficiently understood, nor valued; all of which has contributed to an acceleration of climate change and environmental degradation. Now – as we seek to restore and repair these – is it time ahead of any further loss of darkness to our night skies, to recognise the asset that this is, and put adequate policy and protection in place. Arguing that the timing is optimum now – but finite – to prevent further and intrusive sources of light pollution coming in as a by-product of increased development works; and before we again are forced into retrospective or reparative actions to restore darkness to our overhead skies.
Talk 05 | Opening with what first piqued his interest in Dark Skies; Andy related how a camping trip to the Scottish Highlands, was where he first experienced real overnight darkness. This, to him, was a world away from the light pollution he accepted as the ‘norm’, from an urban base of Glasgow. This formative experience has led to him initially pursuing Astrophysics (along with Engineering) – through higher education – and he can trace the thread of this back through all that he has done since.
Locally Strathnairn – the South Loch Ness rural community where Andy is now resident – has taken a stance against the introduction of light polluting sources at night, associated with ‘development’ works and an ever-expanding Inverness. This can first be traced back to the millennium. In 2025, this culminated in the formation of Strathnairn Stargazing Group – a recognised Community Group – to increase engagement on and locally protect Dark Skies. As part of this ‘Sky Brightness Surveys’ have been undertaken to record the baseline (now) and support a live application to DSI UK, to recognise and protect South Loch Ness Dark Sky Communities; ahead of proposed major energy infrastructure and other associated developments potentially being realised in the locale. This work is being led by SSG for the community of Strathnairn plus Stratherrick & Foyers.
A Q&A session followed the talks, and opened up debate, with participation from the attending audience.
For more information about Continuum | Exhibition or Dark Skies Talks see: Brief summary & associated links _ Continuum & Dark Skies Talks _ 09-18 July _ JM 23.07.26