Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of all time. It is one of the biggest challenges to both humanity and nature globally. We are already seeing the impact of the climate and environmental crises, responding to and recovering from the devastating effects in our communities from severe weather such as unprecedented flooding.

We now need to address this locally here in Cumberland.

Cumberland is known for having some of the UK’s most loved and beautiful natural places, many within England’s largest national park, The Lake District.

It is home to our highest mountain and deepest lake, alongside some significant species such as the Osprey, and habitats such as the Solway Coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

We not only have one, but two World Heritage Sites in our care, in addition to the Lake District and we are bordered by Hadrian’s Wall to the north, where you can experience over 1900 years of history.

We are fortunate to be surrounded by such enriching landscapes and welcome over 19 million visitors a year to enjoy them.

That is why our climate and environment demand our attention, our leadership and our action.

As custodians of these extraordinary landscapes, it will be at the forefront of everything we do – working to create a more sustainable future for all at Cumberland.

Within this newsletter, we'll be looking to share positive stories including the steps we’re taking to reduce our carbon emissions and protect our local environment, and the ways we can help you to make choices that are green, while also saving money and energy at home.

Image description: view of the Cumbria area

Clean Air Day is no ordinary day. It's a breath of fresh air that lingers longer than just 24 hours. It's a movement, a call to action that reverberates far beyond a single date on the calendar. Clean Air Day isn't confined to a mere moment; it's a perpetual reminder of our collective responsibility to protect our planet's precious lungs.

Picture a world where every day is a clean air day. Where the air we inhale is pure, invigorating, and free from pollutants. It's a vision worth fighting for, and Clean Air Day propels us toward that future.

With each passing day, we raise awareness, inspire change, and challenge the status quo. Clean Air Day isn't satisfied with temporary fixes or quick fixes; it's about instigating lasting transformations in our habits, our policies, and our mindset.

Here are some top tips to improve air quality:

• Leave the car on the drive as often as possible, try to walk or cycle to work or school if possible, or use public transport. If you must drive, turn off your engine when you are stationary, and when it’s safe to do so.
• Consider going electric. The availability of electric charging points is ever increasing. Nationally, there has been a huge increase in the registration of electric cars since 2015.
• To improve air quality in your home, ventilate your property, open windows, and use extractor fans when cooking or using cleaning products, but close windows near busy roads during rush hours.
• Consider the products you are using around the house. Use fragrance-free, milder cleaning products and choose paints and varnishes that are labelled as low volatile organic compounds.
• Only burn dry materials, well-seasoned wood or smokeless fuel in your stove, open fire, or BBQ. Wood that is suitable to burn should be marked with the ready to burn logo – this confirms it has a moisture content of 20 per cent or less.
• Only burn authorised fuels in an open fireplace or on exempt appliances. You can be fined up to £300 per offence for non-compliance. Products on the list of Defra exempted appliances can be found on the Defra website: https://smokecontrol.defra.gov.uk/appliances.php

Image description: blue sky with the clouds forming words that say clean air.

The Rebuild Site is an initiative formed in 2021 that takes surplus material from construction companies and enables them to be passed on, reused and resold.

The surplus materials the Rebuild Site collect is donated to community groups and charities to help with building, gardening, crafting and repair projects. The Rebuild Site also sell nearly new and surplus materials to trades and members of the public at reduced prices – perfect for that DIY project that the local community are planning to get underway!

The Rebuild Site are helping to reduce waste and lower the amount of carbon used in creating new materials, by reusing surplus materials

The Rebuild site has just launched a ‘tool library’ where power tools and other tools can be borrowed from the library by members of the public.

Find out more by visiting The Rebuild Site website or visiting their shop in Kingmoor Park in Carlisle which is open Thursdays - Saturdays, 10am - 4pm. The shop is open to both trades and the public.

Image description: a logo for the rebuild site and a picture of the rebuild library

Did you know that in the UK, around 40,000 tonnes of batteries were sold in 2020, with only around 18,000 tonnes being recycled - that’s 45% - but we need to do better.

It’s easy to think you are doing the right thing by popping dead batteries into your general household waste bin, but did you know that they can cause fires in bin wagons and waste processing plants if you do?

When your waste or recycling is collected, any batteries that are in there are likely to be squashed, compacted, punctured or shredded. When this happens, they can ignite resulting in dangerous fires.

Lithium-ion batteries are thought to have caused over 250 fires at waste facilities over the year to March 2020 - over a third of all fires. These are the type of batteries usually found in laptops, tablets and mobile phones as well as some toys, shavers, electric toothbrushes and even e-cigarettes.

Batteries can also hide in toys and other items where it is difficult to remove them if the item no longer works.

Why not try rechargeable batteries? They could save you money, are overall better for the environment, and can even last longer per charge than most disposable batteries.

To avoid the risk of dangerous fires and help the environment, we should all try to remove batteries from items wherever possible and never put items with batteries into your general waste bin or regular recycling. Make sure you recycle them separately instead.

Batteries can be recycled easily at our Household Waste Recycling Centres.

You can find your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre, across the Cumberland area, by clicking this link.

All supermarkets and a lot of other shops also have battery recycling bins. The ‘Recycle Now’ website has a helpful battery section where you can pop in your postcode and find your nearest battery recycling facilities.

Image description: batteries to be recycled.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) is urging the public to be cautious when out in the county, especially in rural settings, following the risk of wildfires being raised to ‘severe’ in the area by the Natural Hazards Partnership. 

Wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife. If they get out of control, they can threaten the welfare of nearby communities too.

Dry ground in the summer means there is an added risk of a fire starting, but caution should be taken at all times of the year.  Follow these tips to reduce the chance of a wildfire in the countryside:

• Extinguish cigarettes properly and do not throw cigarette ends on the ground - take your litter home.
• Never throw cigarette ends out of car windows.
• Avoid using open fires in the countryside.
• Do not leave bottles or glass in woodland - sunlight shining through glass can start fires (take them home and recycle them).
• Only use barbecues in a suitable and safe area and never leave them unattended.
• If you see a fire in the countryside, report it to the fire and rescue service immediately.

Image description: a fire by a lake

We're pleased to let you know about the availability of shuttle buses in the Lake District.

The shuttle buses provide a convenient and sustainable way to explore the beautiful surroundings of the area.

One of the main advantages of using the shuttle buses is that they make journeys to the Lake District easier for visitors. As parking can be limited in the area, the shuttle buses offer a hassle-free alternative, allowing visitors to hop on and hop off at various locations without worrying about finding parking spaces.

The Buttermere shuttle bus is a service operated by Stagecoach. It runs from Cockermouth to Buttermere via Lorton every Saturday, Sunday, and bank holidays. The service will be available until Monday 28 August.  Adult single fares cost £2, half price for young people and free for under 5-year-olds and concessionary pass holders. More information can be found at www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/buttermereshuttle

The Wasdale Shuttle bus, operated by Sim's Travel of Eskdale, provides convenient transport from Ravenglass train station to Wasdale Head. Additionally, the shuttle bus offers a park and ride service between the pop-up car park in Nether Wasdale and Wasdale Head. This service is available on Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays throughout the months of June, July, and August. Adult single fares cost £2 per adult, half for young people and free for under 5-year-olds and concessionary pass holders. More information can be found at www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/Wasdaleshuttle

Whether you are a hiker looking to explore the picturesque landscapes or a nature enthusiast seeking tranquility, the shuttle bus service is a convenient and cost-effective way to reach your destination

The shuttle buses, not only provides a hassle-free transport for residents and visitors, but it also contributes to reducing carbon emissions and minimising the impact on the environment. By opting for shuttle buses, people are actively taking steps towards decreasing their carbon footprint.

Iimage description - a shuttle bus in the lake district

Planting for Pollinators

Together with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, we have been working to reverse pollinator decline across north & west Cumbria.

The Planting for Pollinators project aims to create, improve and connect a mosaic of pollinator-friendly habitats, in turn providing food, shelter and nesting places for the likes of bees, butterflies, wasps and other insects.

Pollinator-friendly habitats include hedges, species rich grassland, scrub, deadwood, banks, glades and flower rich gardens. 

The project in numbers:

• 53 sites
• 158 hectares of habitat improved or restored for pollinators
• 50,000 wildflower plugs planted by the end of the project
• Over 250kg of wildflower meadow seed spread
• 2500 people engaged through events, volunteering and courses
• Nearly 5000 hours of volunteer time given to the project
• 3 entry-level Conservation Officer posts created

For more information about this project, visit Cumbria Wildlife Trust's website.

Image description: an orange-tip butterfly on a dandelion