4pm - 5.30pm at Sutton Bank National Park Centre 

Join us at Sutton Bank National Park Centre as North York Moors National Park staff guide you through the ancient tradition of dusking. 

This is a wonderful opportunity to slow down and take time for yourself in a comfortable setting whilst immersing yourself in nature. 

Important information: this event will be partially outside so please wrap up warm and bring a blanket. Seating will be placed both inside and outside the café to allow you to have the best experience of dusking. The minimum age for this event is 14 years (under 18's must be accompanied by an adult).

Arrival: please arrive at 4pm prompt, this will give you the opportunity to purchase a hot drink and sweet treat from In the Wilde café if you wish, and get comfortable before we start at 4.15pm. 

You don’t have to wait for nightfall to experience the darkness of night. The great transition begins shortly after sunset: the dusk. The golden hour gives way to the blue hour; the light fades, and colours grow cooler. Twilight can teach us what darkness brings to light. We often associate the falling of darkness with disappearance. The light, the day, the noise – everything seems to diminish. But the day does not disappear. We disappear. And as we disappear, something appears. Bats. Moths. A world of shades of grey.
We gather at sunset for Dusking. An ancient Dutch ritual dating back to a time when people kept the lights out for as long as possible so they could await the darkness in peace at the start of the evening. It was a small rite of passage in which work was set aside and (evening) rest began. Just under an hour of neither producing nor consuming anything, simply sitting and watching as darkness falls, as boundaries blur, the day fades away and gives way to the night.Audio will be played which lasts 30 minutes. Credits:
Concept, text and voice: Marjolijn van Heemstra

Music: Roald van Oosten

Visuals: Corine Datema

Part of the Nachtverbond