Volunteers working to keep Herefordshire’s skies dark – helping wildlife and improving stargazing – have been recognized with an award.

Herefordshire is one of the least densely populated counties in England and has relatively low night-time light pollution.

But Dark Skies Herefordshire intends to continue to improve in this area and is now being recognized for its efforts.

Members of the group received the DarkSky International Bob Gent Community Leadership Award.

The team, supported by rural charity Herefordshire CPRE, is using citizen science to tackle light pollution, which judges described as “truly exemplary”.

Founded by former county councilor Yolande Watson, Dark Skies Herefordshire works with county bodies Visit Herefordshire, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust and the Wye Adapt to Climate Change Project to protect and promote Herefordshire’s dark skies and raise awareness of the problem of pollution bright.

Artificial night lighting can “interfere with the natural nocturnal habits of humans and wildlife”, Herefordshire CPRE said, with nocturnal insects particularly affected.

Project partners Herefordshire Astronomical Society hold regular meetings at the Kindle Center in Hereford, while Fownhope Recreation Ground is one of its regular observing sites.