A Northumberland National Park officer has been praised for his work at a prestigious awards ceremony.

Duncan Wise was named ‘Unsung Hero’ in the gold section at the North East England Tourism Awards last night, which were held at the Civic Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne on Thursday, February 29.

The ‘Unsung Hero,’ highlights individuals who have made a remarkable contribution to North East tourism, and ‘Accessible and Inclusive Tourism.’ 

Duncan is a Visitor Development & Tourism Officer and has worked at the National Park for over 24 years and his most celebrated achievement was the establishment of Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, the largest gold status dark sky park in Europe, and a collaborative effort with Kielder Forest Park.

Northumberland’s Dark Sky status has not only brought in over £25 million in revenue for the local economy but has also extended the tourism season in Northumberland, drawing in visitors from across the world. 

Hexham Courant: Duncan praised for his hard workDuncan praised for his hard work (Image: NQ)

Tony Gates, chief executive officer of Northumberland National Park, said, “Recognition for Duncan is long overdue; Duncan’s impact on dark skies has extended well beyond Northumberland National Park; Duncan has helped other protected landscapes worldwide to secure dark skies status.

"It is important awards recognise the achievement and commitment of individual people, and it is fitting he has won this award in the tenth anniversary year of Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, which Duncan helped instigate."

“It is also fantastic that The Sill: Landscape Discovery Centre and Walltown Country Park achieved silver in the accessible and inclusive tourism category after being Highly Commended in 2023. Northumberland National Park Authority has invested heavily in creating accessible and inclusive visitor experiences and it is great to see this hard work rewarded for the many staff and volunteers involved.  

“These two awards are a testament to the dedication and commitment of everyone at Northumberland National Park and I couldn’t be prouder of the people that make up this wonderful organisation.”