Using GIS (ESRI’s Spatial Analyst extension), quantitative analysis has been undertaken to explore the data in more detail. This section presents the findings of the national and regional analysis.

National findings

The following table and graph show the breakdown of land coverage across Wales into the eight bands.  These statistics are based on the land areas of Wales, as defined by Ordnance Survey, and so excludes the pixels within the 5km buffer around the coast.

Table 2 Percentage and area of Wales falling into each colour band

Figure 2 Percentage of Wales falling into each colour band

NRW operational areas

Given that Wales is fairly sparsely populated overall, it is not surprising that the results show that more than two thirds of the country falls into the darkest category; however, there is significant variation across the regions.  This is immediately apparent when looking at Figure 1, which shows that much brighter levels in the far north and far south than central Wales.  Figure 3 shows the breakdown between the categories by NRW operational areas (excluding the Marine operational area).  These areas are shown against the data in Figure 4 Dark skies and light pollution in NRW operational areas.

Figure 3 Percentage of each NRW operational areas falling into each colour band

Appendix 3 contains a full breakdown of the proportion of each area in each colour band, both as a percentage and in km².

Figure 4 Dark skies and light pollution in NRW operational areas

Protected landscapes

Looking specifically at the 3 National Parks (Figure 5) and 5 AONBs (Figure 6) in Wales shows that all these areas are generally free from light pollution. The National Parks are especially dark; so much so that less than 1% of each fall within the brightest four categories, with Snowdonia having only 1.3% of its land area outside of the darkest two categories.

Figure 5 Percentage of each National Park falling into each colour band

Figure 6 Percentage of each AONB falling into each colour band

All but one of the AONBs (Llŷn) have a smaller percentage of their area within the darkest category compared to the Wales average. However, all five have 89% or more of their land area within the darkest two categories, and almost 99% of Llŷn falls within those two darkest categories. The protected areas are shown against the data in Figure 7.

Appendix 4 contains a full breakdown of the proportion of each area in each colour band, both as a percentage and in km².

Figure 7 Dark skies and light pollution in protected landscapes

National landscape character areas

Dark skies and light pollution is shown against the national landscape character areas in Figure 8. An index for the reference numbers shown on the map is provided in Table 3.

Appendix 5 contains a full breakdown of the proportion of each area in each colour band, both as a percentage and in km².

 

Figure 8 Dark skies and light pollution in national landscape character areas

Local authorities

Dark skies and light pollution is shown against the local authority boundaries in Figure 9. An index for the reference numbers shown on the map is provided in Table 4.

Appendix 6 contains a full breakdown of how each area falls into the colour bands, both as a percentage and in km².

Figure 9 Dark skies and light pollution in local authority areas

Future Wales areas

Dark skies and light pollution is shown against the Future Wales areas in Figure 10.

Appendix 7 contains a full breakdown of the proportion of each area in each colour band, both as a percentage and in km².

Figure 10 Dark skies and light pollution in Future Wales areas

LANDMAP Visual & Sensory aspect areas

Analysis of dark skies and light pollution in each of the LANDMAP Visual & Sensory aspect areas has been undertaken. Due to the large number of aspect areas across Wales, the findings are not presented in this report. This data is presented visually on the interactive web app, which is discussed later in this report, and in the accompanying spreadsheet to this report.