Hello and welcome to our summer Environment and Climate Newsletter!
Welcome to the summer edition of the Environment and Climate Newsletter! This season, we're excited to bring you a variety of engaging articles and insights from our partners, stakeholders, and our own team. Whether you're passionate about sustainability, interested in climate change, or just curious about what’s happening in the environmental sector, this newsletter has something for you.
Cumberland Council takes the issues of nature and climate change very seriously. We hope this newsletter will help you understand these challenges and support our efforts to protect and enhance our environment.
In this issue, we delve into innovative projects and initiatives led by our partners, highlighting the creative approaches they are taking to address pressing environmental challenges. We also feature the latest research and reports that explore trends in climate science and sustainability.
Our own contributors offer a fresh perspective on topics ranging from renewable energy to biodiversity conservation. Through these stories, we aim to inspire you to take action and contribute to a healthier planet.
Thank you for joining us on this journey towards a more sustainable future.
We hope you enjoy reading this newsletter as much as we have enjoyed writing it, and remember if you know someone who wants to be placed on this mailing list to receive this Newsletter, please send them a copy with this link
Image description: Councillor Bob Kelly Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for
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Cumberland Council is asking for your views to help shape the first climate and nature strategy which reflects the priorities in the Council Plan.
Drawing on insights from previous work and existing programmes Cumberland Council has prepared a Climate and Nature draft strategy.
Cumberland Councillor Bob Kelly, Executive Member for Cumberland Policy and Regulatory Services, said:
“We are encouraging residents and businesses to participate with this consultation, so that we can ensure the Climate and Nature Strategy includes input and feedback from everyone. Many of the previous actions have become ‘business as usual’ and we want to sustain this positive progress through service planning; the goal is sustainability for the long term.
“We have also been busy creating the right operating model and delivering programmes and projects that will make a difference.
“Our draft strategy will outline our overall approach and programmes of work for 2024-2027, and we look forward to reading all of the public’s responses.”
Image of the solway coast
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 The team have been focusing on the necessary work to establish the LNRS priorities for nature recovery in Cumbria. The LNRS priorities establish what the strategy is trying to achieve over the next three to ten years to aid in Cumbria’s nature recovery.
Since January, our habitat-themed groups have been reviewing various strategies, policies and data, extracting their priorities (or objectives), and compiling a long list of existing nature recovery priorities for Cumbria. The LNRS team then hosted six workshops between the 18th and 20th March to bring each group together, establish a long-term vision for each habitat theme, and identify a small number of targeted priorities using the long list created from the strategy review work.
If you have any comments on these priorities and would like to provide feedback, please email us at Cumbria.LNRS@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.
For the Latest News | Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy (cumbrialnrs.org.uk) click this link.
For more information on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy please visit: https://cumbrialnrs.org.uk/
Image is of a Cumbrian coastal sunrise
We want to know what you think about nature and wildlife in your local area. What are your favourite places? How do you like to spend time in nature? And what birds, animals, and insects do you love to see? By letting us know what is important to you, you’ll be helping to develop plans to make more space for nature in Cumbria, and we’ll share your priorities and ideas with the organisations who look after local green spaces, nature reserves, and the countryside.
Whether you love watching the garden birds, enjoy an epic day exploring the fells, or are more at home rock-pooling by the sea, your views on nature are really important.
Please follow the link below to get started. The survey should take around 10 minutes to complete and your input is greatly appreciated.
Nature in Cumbria Survey
Image is of a bee
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 Cumberland Council is set to upgrade the lighting on Eden Bridge with new heritage-style lanterns. The current lanterns, which have become unreliable due to age, will be replaced with energy-efficient LED lights that maintain the historic character of the area.
The River Eden, a Special Area of Conservation, is home to diverse wildlife and plants. To protect this sensitive ecosystem, the council selected lanterns with a reduced blue light spectrum, minimising light pollution while providing a warm glow reminiscent of gas lanterns. The lighting will operate only from sunset to midnight, reducing its environmental impact, while road lighting will ensure safety.
Cumberland Council's lighting team will lead the refurbishment, with support from local contractor EEC Limited. The work will be organised during May, with minimal disruption to pedestrians, cyclists, and traffic. Plans are also underway to replace heritage lanterns on Victoria Viaduct and Nelson Bridge later this year.
Image show the original lighting at Eden Bridges
 Our Street Cleaning team has been diligently engaged in litter picking throughout Cumberland, especially along the busy road networks.
A massive thank you to our teams for their efforts in maintaining the cleanliness of our area.
Image is a collection of photos from a litter pick on the A689 towards Brampton
 The Workington Nature Partnership is celebrating its 10th anniversary! Since its beginning in spring 2014, this initiative, a collaboration between the former Allerdale Borough Council and Workington Council, has flourished. Initially aimed at managing key nature sites like Siddick Pond and Harrington Local Nature Reserves, the Partnership relies on dedicated volunteers. The role of the Workington Nature Partnership Officer was created through joint council funding.
The partnership's success is rooted in its dedicated volunteers who contribute tirelessly, rain or shine. Over the years, the partnership has collaborated with various organisations, including schools, colleges, local "Friends of" groups, the NHS, businesses, and charities like Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation.
Regular events such as beach cleans, wildflower and tree planting, wildlife surveys, and guided walks engage the community in environmental stewardship. Notably, projects like the Harrington Nature Reserve restoration and the Siddick Pond improvements have greatly enhanced these natural spaces.
The Workington Nature Partnership exemplifies the power of joint initiatives in achieving and sustaining shared environmental goals. Here's to the next decade of success!
Image of Raegan the Workington Nature Partnership Officer, and tribe of merry volunteers hard at work collecting and redistributing kidney vetch seed to improve habitat for the Small Blue butterfly with views of Workington in the background
The Cumbrian Coast Line Community Rail Partnership has been highly praised for their innovative work promoting accessible and active travel.
Working in collaboration with Northern Trains Ltd and three local Day Services groups - West House, Carlisle Day Services and Allerdale & Copeland Day Opportunities – the CRP’s latest project, “Beyond the Home” has created a series of unique display panels promoting local walks, trails, cycle routes, nature and heritage.
For more information about the Community Rail Network, please go to their website.
Image of a Cumbrian coast line with a train link
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Eden Rivers Trust has been awarded £2 million by The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their "Access to Eden: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges" project. Combined with additional partner contributions, this brings the total funding to £2.6 million, dedicated to enhancing the natural heritage of East Cumbria over the next four years.
This initiative aims to eliminate obstacles preventing people and wildlife from accessing the Eden River's natural beauty. The project will improve trails and provide better information, making nature more accessible to all. It also includes community-led conservation efforts at eight key sites, creating sustainable and thriving natural spaces.
One highlight is the development of the Engine Lonning green space in Carlisle. Collaborating with Cumberland Council, plans include creating a wheel-friendly path, clearing invasive species, and highlighting the area's railway and Roman history through community-inspired signage and events.
The Eden Rivers Trust’s "Access to Eden" project promises significant environmental and community benefits, enhancing the enjoyment and preservation of the Eden rivers.
Image is of the Eden River Trust logo
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 Our dedicated Environment Officers have been diligently encouraging residents to take responsibility for their surroundings by properly disposing of their dog waste. Not only is this highly unpleasant, but it's also illegal.
Thanks to our ongoing campaign efforts, we're delighted to see a positive response, with people even sharing photos of their dogs to support our cause on social media.
We send a huge thank you to the Environment team for their exceptional dedication to maintaining the beauty of our community.
Image is of the campaign about Scoop that poop, featuring Odie from a resident in the Cumberland area.
Work started on the Oldside site at the Port of Workington - to establish the ground conditions ahead of future development.
We are managing the project which aims to use the location to create a clean energy and logistics hub. Around £4.5 million of funding is being provided by the UK Government as part of the Workington Town Deal.
 West Cumbria Rivers Trust have started a fantastic Community Rewilding project at Mirehouse Ponds, Whitehaven (with the permission of the owners Haig Anglers and with funding from 'Sellafield Ltd Six – social impact, multiplied'). Their work and community activities happen around the outer path and the woodland at Mirehouse Ponds, and they’ve been busy. Conservation work so far includes a tree survey, management plans, coppicing and felling of dangerous trees, and they’ve just finished creating a ‘Fantastic Forest School’ area.
Their wild, woody forest school events are now taking place with local youth groups and schools. They’ve also had egg hunts, nature and adventure activities and a twilight amphibian search with Cumbria Amphibian and Reptile Group (CARG) exploring the site with torches in search of frogs, newts and toads. Locals and volunteers have been instrumental in helping to transform the site, clearing 13 bin bags of rubbish.
Image is of children helping with the Forest school
Cumberland Council has planted trees across the region to show their commitment to care experienced young people as they transition into adulthood. This initiative is part of 'Positivitrees,' a national tree-planting campaign by the National Leaving Care Bench Marking Forum (NLCBF) to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Trees were planted in Carlisle's Bitts Park, Castle Park in Whitehaven, and Workington Hall Park, symbolising the council's dedication to support care experienced young people as their 'corporate parents.'
Representatives from Cumberland's care experienced community, the council, and NLCBF took part in the ceremony, underlining the collaborative spirit of the event. The choice of oak trees signifies resilience, while the blossom trees represent growth and the potential to bloom.
This planting also highlights the council's commitment to expanding its 'Local Offer,' a package of support designed in partnership with care experienced young people to help them thrive.
Image of the young adults planting trees
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We were pleased to support ‘The Big Switch Off’ event that took place on Tuesday 23 April, in Keswick.
This collaborative initiative, led by Friends of the Lake District as part of their Dark Skies project, with the National Trust and Keswick Tourism Association, aimed to showcase the beauty of the night sky while promoting electricity conservation. This event has been running for several years, and we do like to offer our support for it.
It was a great opportunity to encourage Keswick’s residents and businesses to join in by turning off their lights overnight, providing an opportunity to appreciate the impact on stargazing.
Approximately 60 lights in the areas of Lake Road, Hope Park, Crow Park, The Headlands, and Lake Road car park were switched off during the event.
Large image is the Milky Way over Catbells, Derwentwater by Pete Collins.
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£250,000 of government funding has been secured for public swimming pools in Carlisle, Wigton and Workington.
Cumberland Council successfully bid for the money as part of the Swimming Pool Support Fund phase two after securing £350,000 last year as part of the phase one application process. It has recently been announced that £254,227 capital support was granted by government.
Sport England is managing the fund on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The fund aims to reduce the energy consumption level of facilities in receipt of the funding, compared to baseline, and support the leisure sector to transition to a position of environmental and financial sustainability.
Image is of young people at a swimming pool
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West Cumbria Rivers Trust, in partnership with Moresby Parish Council, have been awarded a £2.3 Million National Heritage Lottery Funded project. Over the next 4 years ‘A Wilder Walkmill’ will improve access for all, create new and improved habitats to support nature recovery, increase volunteering opportunities and events and activities for the local community, provide education sessions and forest schools, and also run an apprenticeship scheme to train young people in employable conservation skills.
More details about the project can be found at the West Cumbria River Trust website.
Image is of the logo for National Heritage Lottery Funded
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 Our cycle confidence sessions:
- Are suitable for all ages and abilities.
- Are run by professional coaches from our friends at Stage1 cycles.
- We can even provide bikes and helmets if needed. Please request when booking on.
- This is a small group with maximum 12 attendees
- Will increase cycling skills, awareness and confidence in a safe off-road environment at Harraby cycle track.
- Offer progression and skills to move onto the roads.
- Are free and fun.
To Be Part of It you need to book on to this free course by emailing travelactively@cumberland.gov.uk by Wednesday 29 May.
Image of details of event
 The Local Investment in Natural Capital (LINC) projects were given the go-ahead by the Borderlands Board in March. Work is now underway in getting the following projects up and running:
- Developing a place-based Natural Capital Investment Brokerage
- Incentivising the transition to healthier grasslands
- Supporting demonstration Landscape-scale Case Studies Project
For more information please go to the Borderlands Growth website.
Image is of the solway coast
 In March the waste contractor Renewi launched a new campaign to encourage people to recycle the 3.2 million batteries discarded in Cumbria each year.
Renewi has partnered with Valpak and is backed by Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service, Cumberland Council and Westmorland & Furness Council, they have designed a new Superewe character with the help of Plus3K to raise public awareness and represent the mascot for this and future campaigns.
The Superewe character has been placed on all new Valpak battery boxes supplied to all 269 primary schools across Cumbria, as well as on a Cumberland waste collection vehicle.
The ‘Baa-ttery’ campaign is also being featured in the next primary news publication (30,000 copies) which goes to all primary schools across Cumbria. When the boxes are full, they will be collected for free, and a replacement provided. Book tokens will be awarded to the schools which collect the most unwanted batteries before the school summer holidays.
Image is of the Fire Service and Renewi staff rolling the campaign out, with Cumberland Council's Julian Diaper, Contracts Manager; third from the right as you look at the photo.
 For your information, and please share this with your family and friends too, that there are no changes in the waste collection dates for the coming bank holiday at the end of May – we will be working as usual on the bank holiday.
Please ensure that your bins are placed out on the regular pickup date.
For further information, for all collections dates – please go to: https://bit.ly/CumberlandRefuseCollections
Image of some of the teams collecting recycling
 We are proud to announce our partnership with Cumbria Wildlife Trust to create flower-rich, pollinator-friendly habitats in community green spaces as part of the Trust’s “Get Cumbria Buzzing, Not Buffering” initiative, funded by Fibrus Broadband. This collaborative project aims to engage communities across Cumbria, encouraging them to take positive action for pollinators in their local areas.
This year, we are focusing our efforts on Bransty (Whitehaven) and Winder (Frizington), progressing schemes to enhance these areas for pollinators. By the end of 2025, at least fifteen community green spaces will have benefitted from Fibrus’s £150,000 contribution, ensuring they are managed correctly and continue to thrive as pollinator havens for years to come.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s conservation work for bees and other pollinators is greatly supported by this partnership with Fibrus Broadband. The full-fibre broadband company's environmental initiative is making a significant impact, promoting biodiversity and environmental stewardship throughout the county.
Read the full story here - New project to get Cumbria buzzing not buffering | Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Follow Cumbria Wildlife Trust on social media to find out more.
In the image, left to right: Tanya St Pierre (CWT), Caitlin Fox (CWT), Charlotte Rankin (CWT) and Libby Bateman (Hyperfast GB / Fibrus)
Get your tickets booked now for the highly acclaimed 'Six inches of Soil' film that Cockermouth CAN are bringing to the Kirkgate Theatre on Sunday 9 June from 6pm (as part of the annual national 'Great Big Green Week’).
There will be information stalls at the start from 6pm such as: Master Composters, West Cumbria Rivers Trust, Cockermouth Rotary Incredible Edible, Cockermouth CAN – Climate Action Now, local farm, business & shop initiatives around this agenda & the Food Cumberland Partnership.
The film (details below) will commence at 7pm, followed by a short break where we will announce the raffle prizes, drinks can be replenished from the bar which will be open throughout and then a Question & Answer panel will be held with speakers from the different areas e.g. farming, low carbon and local food, woodlands, environment etc.
To book your tickets, click here: 'Six Inches of Soil' (PG) Film plus Q&A (ticketsolve.com)
Look forward to seeing you there
Image is of the logo for Six inches of soil film
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Millom Ironworks Local Nature Reserve, on the edge of the Duddon Estuary, is owned by Cumberland Council and supports a population of the threatened Natterjack Toad along with diverse flora and fauna. This site showcases how post-industrial land can transform into a wildlife haven. Recently, lack of active management allowed invasive willow to overtake Natterjack breeding ponds, making them unsuitable and favoring the Common Toad. Natterjacks need warm, shallow pools with short vegetation, and dense growth makes breeding difficult.
To address this, Parks and Open Spaces staff collaborated with the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, Natural England, and enthusiastic volunteers to remove willow from four breeding ponds. This effort aims to create a conducive environment for Natterjacks to breed successfully this spring.
Image is of a natterjack toad
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As part of the national annual ‘Great Big Green Week’, we will hear from speakers who will give short presentations on varied topics which have such a huge impact on our communities. The theme this year is ‘Let’s swap together, for good’ and so during this day we will swap information, ideas, skills & seeds
To book your place, please click on the below link:
https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/59143?
Wed 12 June | 9.30am-2pm | Christ Church, Cockermouth
 We are pleased that we have started a deep clean initiative, in Whitehaven, which began in early May.
Enhancing the attractiveness of the town centre is excellent news for both the local community, businesses and our visitors.
Initiatives such as the deep cleaning programme shows Cumberland Council’s commitment to the creation of a cleaner, safer, and more vibrant area for all, highlighting a sense of pride and it shows our commitment to put health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.
Image is one of our street cleaning team cleaning Lowther Street in Whitehaven.
 Last month, one of the most unexpected press releases we issued was regarding toads crossing the road.
After concerned residents reached out to our Highway Hotline, we discovered that toads, frogs, and newts were migrating to the pond in Caldbeck village, necessitating their crossing of the road.
We urged residents to exercise caution while driving through Caldbeck, as amphibians were currently on the move in the area!
Just another day on the job! Recognition to the team for swiftly addressing this issue, promptly responding to the query, taking necessary action, and even creating the signs – your efforts have truly made us proud!
Image of a sign with a toad on the road sign
Raise: Cumbria Community Forest have supported West Cumbrian secondary school, The Whitehaven Academy, to develop its vast outdoor spaces in a project that will enhance pupils’ health, well-being and learning outcomes for decades to come.
The 18-month project has seen Raise foresters work with the school’s eco-committee to co-design a multipurpose planting scheme which includes the creation of 7 hectares of woodland with 526 trees planted and an estimated 590 – 6500 trees naturally regenerated over the next 15 years. It also includes amenity tree planting to develop spaces for creative engagement, the establishment of a fruit orchard and a naturally recolonising ‘Cumbrian Savannah’.
Students also worked with The Knotted Project to create a short performance piece in response to their surroundings and their feelings about the environment.
Raise provided funding for the project through Trees for Climate, part of the government-led, Nature for Climate Fund.
The project has also been supported by internet broadband provider Fibrus, who donated trail cameras that will allow students to study the changing ecology of the site.
As well as improving biodiversity, the scheme will contribute to net zero and deliver long lasting opportunities for students to develop their understanding of the natural world.
For more information on Raise: Cumbria Community Forest please visit www.raisecumbria.co.uk
Images of the students working to develop the outside space
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 We're reminding residents and visitors to leave pebbles or shells on beaches that they might visit, or they could be fined up to £1000.
The Coast Protection Act states that in the UK, it is unlawful to take any natural materials like sand, shells and pebbles from the beach, no matter the amount. This law is in place to protect the natural environment and can be enforced by Cumberland Council and result in a fine of up to £1000.
This isn't all about the fines - we want visitors to our beaches to know that taking pebbles, shells and sand will have a detrimental effect to our beaches, we all need to play our part to protect our beautiful beaches for future generations to enjoy.
Image is of the beach at St Bees
 Through the Planting for Pollinators project in Cumberland, Cumbria Wildlife Trust has worked with local communities, town and parish councils, and Cumberland Council across five sites in the Copeland area, to take action for pollinators and create pollinator friendly green spaces.
Habitat works have focused on creating flower-rich areas, providing much-needed food, nesting and sheltering habitat for pollinating insects, through sowing and planting native, Cumbrian wildflower seed, as well as enhancing flower beds through planting of pollinator friendly garden species.
Across five sites in Whitehaven, St Bees, Egremont, Calderbridge and Drigg, over 120 people have helped to plant 11,300 wildflowers for pollinators and people to enjoy.
This wouldn’t have been possible without the help of St Bees Primary School, Bookwell Primary School and Gosforth Church of England School, as well as local residents, Drigg and Carleton Parish Council, Ponsonby and Calderbridge Parish Council, and community groups including Friends Of Egremont Castle and Whitehaven Harbour Youth Project.
Working closely with Cleator Moor Town Council, more wildflower planting is to take place this spring at Mill Hill Field in Cleator Moor, as part of exciting plans to establish wildflower-rich grassland. To find out more about joining in, please get in touch with Charlotte Rankin, Pollinator Conservation Officer at Cumbria Wildlife Trust, via pollinators@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk.
The Planting for Pollinators project in Cumberland has been made possible through funding from Cumberland Council.
Image is of two people wildflower planting at The Beacon (c) Cumbria Wildlife Trust
We are alerting residents about Ash Dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus), a disease threatening Ash trees (Fraxinus ssp.). This fungal infection has spread widely across the UK and is likely to impact up to 90% of Ash trees within the next decade. Affected trees become brittle and hazardous, leading to safety concerns and requiring heavy machinery for removal.
Our tree specialists are surveying Ash trees along the Resilient Road Networks (most As, some Bs, and C roads) to assess the level of infection and determine necessary actions, such as felling or maintenance. We plan to extend these surveys to cover all road networks, working with local parishes and private landowners to manage infected trees.
Tree removal is a last resort, consistent with our policy to remove trees only if they are dead, dying, diseased, or dangerous. For more information on identifying Ash Dieback, visit the Woodland Trust website.
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Community Panels are a new way of putting people at the heart of local decision making.
Cumberland Council has eight panels, each made up of ward councillors. The panels meet four times a year to decide what their communities need, and to direct investment towards projects that tackle those priorities.
The work of the Community Panel is shaped by a network of partners, residents, businesses, parish and town councils, and third sector organisations. The panel gets input from the network in a variety of formal and informal ways, including consultations and events. The network helps set priorities, and guide the Community Panel’s Neighbourhood Investment Plan.
The plan sets out where the panel will direct resources and investment. It helps them address local need and support residents with the right investment.
Find out more about community panels – including when they meet and how to get in contact – here: Community Panels | Cumberland Council. You can also sign up to newsletters about each panel.
Image description: logo for Community Panels
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The Border, Fellside and North Carlisle Community Panel met recently and agreed to fund a range of projects, including the following sustainable ventures:
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Brampton Allotments and Smallholdings was awarded £4,000 towards buying a 100-year-old orchard next to its allotments. Some of the money will also be used to buy the land the existing allotments stand on.
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Stanwix Rural Parish Council received £2,000 towards replacing old wooden noticeboards in Brunstock, Crosby-on-Eden, Houghton, Linstock, Park Broom, Rickerby, Tarraby, Vallum and Walby. They will be replaced with more robust recycled plastic ones.
- £610 to St Cuthbert Without Parish Council for a bench, made from recycled plastic, in the new play area at Speckled Wood estate.
- £1,208 to Nether Denton Parish Council to repair a patio and reinforce banking damaged by heavy rainfall at Low Row Village Hall.
- £250 to the Border Rambler bus service to help update its ticket machine. This Community Interest Company, and its volunteer drivers, provides scheduled journeys between rural villages around Carlisle, Brampton and Gilsland. The software upgrade to the ticketing machine will allow users to pay by contactless card, making it more efficient and accessible.
To find out more about other projects that this panel has funded, please follow this link.
Image shows the logo for the Border, Fellside and North Carlisle Community Panel
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Do you live, work or deliver services in the Petteril area? Join us on Thursday 23 May.
We want to hear your ideas and concerns, and tell you about the investment taking place locally.
You can meet the panel (your local ward councillors), and our Community Development team, on Thursday 23 May, at 6pm at the St Margaret Mary Parish Community Centre on Scalegate Road in Carlisle.
There will be pie and peas and time for an informal chat, followed by news of how we are investing in the area, and what’s planned by other agencies.
Places can be booked by emailing petterilcommunitypanel@cumberland.gov.uk. Please let us know you are coming so that we can plan catering. The event should finish at about 8pm and everyone is welcome - we want to hear from you.
Petteril Community Panel covers the wards of Botcherby, Currock, Harraby South, Harraby North and Upperby.
For all other Community Panel deadlines, please click the button to visit the website.
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