Exmoor Dark Skies Festival Competition
Can you design an Exmoor Park Protector Character?
Exmoor National Park has some of the Darkest Skies in England and it is vitally important that we continue to protect the night. Artificial light not only has implications for our health and well-being, it also disrupts wildlife’s natural patterns and limits our views of the stunning starry skies.
Our Exmoor Dark Skies Competition is now closed. Please keep an eye on our website and social media where we will announce the winners once judging has been completed by the end of November.
Thank you to everyone who has submitted entries. We have been overwhelmed with the response with over 100 entries. Many thanks to everyone who has taken the time to create some incredible Dark Skies Protectors. Our judges will have a very difficult job choosing a winner!
1. Competition Overview
As part of the Exmoor Dark Skies Festival, the Exmoor National Park is organizing a Childrens Competition in celebration of our incredible International Dark Skies Reserve. Children (aged 11 and under) are invited to Design and Create an Exmoor Dark Skies Protector - a character that travels the skies to ensure light pollution is kept to a minimum and the stars remain bright.
2. Eligibility
2.1. The competition is open to children aged 11 and under.
2.2. Employees of Exmoor National Park Authority, their families, and anyone connected to the competition are not eligible to enter.
3. How to Enter
3.1. To enter, participants must email a picture of their designed Protector and completed Entry Form to ruralenterprise@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk
3.2. The design must be the original work of the entrant.
3.3. Entries must be received by 21.00 Sunday 2nd November 2025.
3.4. Only one entry per person permitted.
4. Photo Submission Requirements
4.1. Entries must not contain any inappropriate, offensive, or illegal content. Exmoor National Park reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not adhere to this condition.
5. Winner Selection
5.1. A panel of judges from Exmoor National Park will select the winning entry based on creativity and imagination.
5.2. The winner will be notified via direct message on the social media platform used for their entry within 14 days of the competition closing.
5.3. If the winner does not respond within 7 days of notification, Exmoor National Park reserves the right to select an alternative winner.
6. Prize
6.1. The prize is a Celestron Telescope kindly donated by Celestron.
6.2. The prize is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or any other item.
7. Usage Rights
7.1. By entering the competition, participants grant Exmoor National Park a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, publish, and display the submitted design across its platforms and promotional materials.
8. Liability
8.1. Exmoor National Park accepts no responsibility for any entries that are lost, delayed, misdirected, or incomplete due to technical failures or other reasons beyond its control.
8.2. Exmoor National Park reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the competition if necessary, without prior notice.
9. Data Protection
9.1. Personal data collected during the competition (such as name and contact details of the winner) will be used solely for the purposes of administering the competition and will be processed in accordance with Exmoor National Park's privacy policy.
9.2. Personal data will not be shared with third parties without the entrant’s consent.
10. Governing Law
10.1. These terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
10.2. Any disputes arising in connection with this competition shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
By participating in the Exmoor Dark Skies Festival Competition, entrants are deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions.