AN ISLAND off the Gwynedd coast has become the first site in Europe to be officially recognised as one of the most remote and dark places on earth.

Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island) has received International Dark Sky Sanctuary certification by the International Dark Skies Association (IDA), becoming the first site in Europe to achieve this status.

International Dark Sky Sanctuaries are typically situated in a very remote location with few nearby threats to the quality of its dark night skies.

With its new designation Enlli meets strict criteria and joins just 16 other sites worldwide.

Sian Stacey, chair of the Bardsey Island Trust, said: “We are delighted to announce the news of Ynys Enlli’s new status as International Dark Sky Sanctuary (IDSS) today.

“It is a huge achievement and I would like to thank all who have been involved. It’s the culmination of several years hard work involving our own team as well as our partners across the region and beyond.

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“There’s no doubt that achieving this prestigious status for Ynys Enlli will raise the profile of the island as a unique place in Wales and amongst the best in the world to appreciate the night sky. We hope it will also go a long way in securing the long-term sustainability of the island.”

Ruskin Hartley, executive director of the International Dark-Sky Association added: "We are pleased to welcome Ynys Enlli to the growing community of dark sky places worldwide.

“With it, Wales is fast becoming one of the leading nations in protecting dark skies as a precious resource that benefits people and wildlife.”

Ynys Enlli is located two miles off the tip of the Llŷn Peninsula. Its location and geographical features make it one of the darkest places in the UK – with the mountain on the island serving as an effective barrier, limiting light from the mainland.

The closest major light pollution comes from Dublin, which is more than 70 miles across the Irish Sea.

It is known as ‘the island of 20,000 saints’ due to the Celtic and Christian monasteries established there during the sixth century, the population of Ynys Enlli has fluctuated over the centuries.

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A four-year programme using the latest technology was undertaken as part of the application to monitor the quality of the night sky on the island, to show that it is sufficiently dark to qualify for the designation. The IDA also required a lighting management plan and photographic evidence for this certification.

Mari Huws is one of the Wardens on Ynys Enlli and has been part of the certification process.

She said: “Living here I am always in awe of the island’s beauty – and the night sky is very much a part of that.

“Having secured the certification, we look forward to welcoming visitors here over the coming months and years and sharing with them our unique story.

“We knew we lived in a special place, this new status confirms this, with IDSS putting Enlli firmly on the global stage.

“In a world that's increasingly being polluted, it's a privilege to be able to work towards protecting something that is pristine for future generations.”

The application received support from Welsh Government, other Dark Sky locations in Wales including the Brecon Beacons National Park and Eryri National Park, Aberdaron Community Council, and Natural Resources Wales as well as project NOS (dark sky project), astronomy associations, and Gwynedd Council.

Having secured IDSS status, the Bardsey Island Trust now aims to continue its work to protect the dark skies seen from Ynys Enlli by raising awareness of this unique location in Wales, as well as promoting the importance of the dark skies locally and nationally.