Daylight savings

Hours of Daylight

In the UK, during summer, there are more hours
of daylight. The days are lighter for longer.

In the winter, there are less hours of daylight.
The days become darker earlier in the evening.

The Shortest and Longest Days

The day which has the fewest hours of daylight in
the year, is the 21st December. This is called the
winter solstice.

In the UK, the day which has the most hours of
daylight in the year, is the 21st June. This is
called the summer solstice.

JUNE

Clocks Forward, Clocks Back

When British Summer Time begins, everyone moves the time on their
clocks forward one hour. This is called ‘putting the clocks forward’.

When British Summer Time ends and autumn begins, everyone moves
the time on their clocks back by one hour. This is called ‘putting the
clocks back’.

But why do we do this?

Did you know…?

In the Royal Households across the UK, staff working
for the Queen spend 50 hours changing the time on
1000 clocks!

Making the Most of the Daylight

In 1914, a man called William
Willet decided that people should
make the most of the longer hours
of daylight in the summer.

He also pointed out that less coal
and candles would be used,
because people would have lighter
evenings.

First World War

In April 1916, Germany became the first country to switch to Daylight
Saving Time (DST). This saved fuel during the war.
In May 1916, Britain also switched to Daylight Saving Time.

Good Things and Bad Things

Good things about DST:
•Less traffic accidents, as people can
see more clearly in daylight.

•Saving energy as not as many
lights are on and so less electricity
is being used.

•More people exercise outside.

Not so good things about DST:
•Darker mornings can mean it is
less safe for children to walk to
school.

•Farmers get up early, so are
working in the dark for longer.

How to Remember

A great way to remember when the clocks go forwards
or back, is this little phrase:

Spring forward,

fall back.

‘Fall’ is the American term for autumn.
So in the spring, clocks go forward an hour and
in the autumn, they go back an hour.