Hello and welcome to our February Environment and Climate Newsletter!
This February edition of the newsletter brings together national and local polices and plans that are important drivers for our Climate and Nature Strategy, it includes updates on the delivery of key projects too.
Climate change is increasing the chances of flooding and the national climate models project we will see warmer and wetter winters, and more frequent and intense extreme weather events. The National assessment of flood and coastal risk has been followed up with the publishing of two very important services to help people understand their local risk, these are national tools that are accessible online.
The launch of a national public consultation on a Land Use Framework helps to bring together the challenges of Food Security, Clean Energy, Net Zero and Nature Recovery into one conversation.
Locally, our Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy is being readied for consultation in spring 2025; once finalised it will be a tool to help prioritise nature recovery in the places where it will have the greatest impact for people and nature.
The Cummersdale Project brings all these topics into a real-world experience, two years of planning and preparation have led to a new project designed to enhance biodiversity while also improving public access, creating a vibrant and accessible natural space for both wildlife and the local community to enjoy.
A very positive start to 2025!
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From 31 March 2025, DEFRA’s ‘Simpler Recycling’ legislation will take effect, standardising the collection of dry recyclable waste (excluding garden waste and plastic film) across councils in England, impacting most businesses.
Smaller businesses with fewer than 10 full-time employees will have until 31 March 2027 to comply, while households in England have until 2026 for local authorities to implement the changes.
This shift towards a more consistent system is expected to boost recycling rates and encourage manufacturers to design more widely recyclable packaging, ensuring their products can be recycled nationwide, not just in select areas.
We will keep you posted!
The Hosted Waste Disposal team welcomed two new colleagues in January, with Leanne Thomas and David Briggs joining as Waste Service Analysts. Their work will focus on enhancing performance reporting for waste disposal and recycling across Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Councils. Additionally, they will support the service in understanding the implications of future legislation and identifying opportunities for improvement and efficiency.
Leanne joins from the private sector, having spent 11 years at FCC Environment. Her experience in waste management will be valuable in supporting the operational management of Biffa Cumbria Limited, which oversees 14 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) and two Mechanical and Biological Treatment (MBT) facilities.
David brings 17 years of experience working with Cumberland Council (formerly Cumbria County Council) in accountancy and financial systems teams. His deep understanding of financial systems and protocols will help strengthen collaboration between the Hosted Waste Disposal Team and Finance.
A warm welcome from everyone!
Image is of our two new service analysts, Leanne Thomas and David Briggs
 Keep Britain Tidy honoured environmental champions at its annual Network Awards in Liverpool last Thursday. The event, held at the Crowne Plaza, brought together over 100 local authority leaders, housing associations, and land managers to discuss ways to tackle waste, litter, and fly-tipping.
Among the winners was our Public Spaces team, which received the Environmental Action Award for its street cleaning and enforcement efforts. Other winning initiatives included an alien-themed digital game encouraging park use and a council app rewarding sustainable actions.
Keep Britain Tidy praised the winners for their innovative approaches, demonstrating how collective action can lead to cleaner, greener communities.
Image is of some members of our Public Spaces team
 Earlier in the month some of the team attended the Comms Conference in London, which gathered industry leaders and experts from across the waste and recycling sector, it presented different strategies for enhancing client and resident engagement, developing community relationships, humanising brand messaging, and improving the flow of information of operations both internally and externally. The conference was extremely interesting and had some great ideas and lessons to take away and start to apply in our area!
Image is taken during one of the talks during the comms conference
Carlisle Library is undergoing an exciting £3.3 million transformation to become a modern learning and community hub! Funded by the UK Government’s Carlisle Town Deal, the revamped library will feature state-of-the-art facilities, a dedicated children’s zone, social spaces, study areas, and more.
As part of its commitment to sustainability, Cumberland Council has partnered with The Rebuild Site CIC to donate surplus library furniture for reuse in community projects. This initiative helps reduce waste while supporting local charities, community groups, and DIY enthusiasts with affordable, high-quality materials.
During the refurbishment of Carlisle Library, key services will remain accessible. A temporary library space is set to open by the end of February. In the meantime, book borrowing, PC access, and Wi-Fi are available at local library links in Morton Manor, Denton Holme, Harraby, Longtown, and Brampton. Additionally, digital resources, including BorrowBox and Ancestry, can still be accessed online.
Stay tuned for updates on this exciting transformation!
Image is of the chairs ready to be donated at Carlisle library
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 In partnership with Raise: Cumbria Community Forest, we have secured £107,000 to plant over 9,000 trees and improve public access in Cummersdale, Carlisle. This initiative will transform 5.8 hectares of former grazing land into new woodland, scrub, and grassland habitats, enhancing biodiversity and climate resilience.
Raise: Cumbria Community Forest, funded by Defra’s Nature for Climate Scheme, is working to create woodland corridors across Cumbria, improving air quality, reducing flooding, and increasing green space access.
A new 400-metre footpath is already under construction and will be completed by spring 2025. The project, developed in consultation with the local community, also includes creative activities exploring the benefits of woodlands.
Cummersdale is one of many planting projects supporting a long-term vision for a greener Cumbria. Further updates will follow as work progresses.
Image is a photograph taken of Cummersdale village
 A new Community Interest Company, Cumbria Clothing Collective, has launched to combat textile waste and promote sustainable fashion across the county. Founded by business adviser Gail Gravett, the initiative encourages reuse, repair, and responsible consumption. Inspired by a documentary exposing the global impact of fast fashion waste, Gail secured a £6,500 grant from Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAFS) to kickstart the project.
Partnering with local councils and organisations like RESTORE Carlisle and Cumbria Clothes Swaps, the collective plans to engage communities through sewing workshops and collaborations with Kendal College. A key focus is developing a Repair Directory to connect residents with clothing repair services.
For updates, follow Cumbria Clothing Collective’s journey as they work toward a greener future.
Image is a stock image of a landfill site
- Buy less, choose well
- Before purchasing, ask yourself: Do I really need this?
- Invest in high-quality, timeless pieces that last longer.
- Extend the life of your clothes
- Follow care labels to wash and store garments properly.
- Repair minor damages like loose buttons or small tears instead of discarding items.
- Embrace second-hand fashion
- Shop at charity shops, vintage stores, or online resale platforms.
- Organise or participate in clothing swaps with friends or community groups.
- Get creative with upcycling
- Transform old clothes into new items like tote bags, scrunchies, or cushion covers.
- Use fabric scraps for DIY projects.
- Donate or resell responsibly
- Give unwanted clothes to charities, shelters, or textile recycling programs.
- Sell items on platforms like Vinted, Depop, or eBay.
Image is of the recycling logo made out of clothing
We are advancing Start with The Park, a major £2.6 million regeneration project in Carlisle, funded by the Carlisle Town Deal. This marks the first phase of the Greenway, a sustainable travel route connecting St Cuthbert’s Garden Village (SCGV) to the city and countryside.
The project will enhance Hammond’s Pond with:
- Upgraded play areas
- A brand-new skate park
- New tree planting
- Improved footways and drainage
- Safer road crossings for better connectivity
Partnering with Active Cumbria, the initiative will also develop walking routes and wayfinding to support health and well-being.
Residents are invited to share their ideas for the new skate park through a public consultation, open until Monday 24 February.
Image is of a 'Welcome to Hammonds Pond' sign as you enter the park
 Carlisle Cathedral is now illuminated by a state-of-the-art floodlighting system, enhancing its historic presence in the heart of the city. Funded by the UK Government, this is the first completed project under the Carlisle Town Deal and features the latest energy-efficient LED technology.
The upgraded lighting replaces an outdated system and offers dynamic, colour-changing displays, highlighting the Cathedral and Fratry as key landmarks. The project aims to enhance the city’s nighttime appeal, attracting visitors and supporting the local evening economy.
Part of the wider Lighting Up Carlisle initiative, this scheme builds on previous installations at the Citadel, Station, Court Square, and Crown and Mitre Hotel, with more to follow.
The Carlisle Town Deal, backed by £19.7 million in funding, continues to deliver transformational projects, including the Carlisle Southern Gateway improvements and Tullie’s redevelopment, ensuring a brighter future for the city.
Image is of Carlisle Cathedral illuminated with blue and red lights
The Lakes to Sea Community Panel, which covers the wards of Maryport North, Maryport South, Cockermouth North, Cockermouth South, Keswick, Dearham and Broughton and Bothel and Wharrels, wants to know how residents travel around the area.
One of the panel’s priorities is active travel, and there is a survey and upcoming event around this theme. Please share this with anyone who lives or works in the panel area.
Do you ever walk or cycle? We’re keen to find out how we can help people make more journeys by foot or on bike, improving their health and safeguarding the environment.
 Earlier this month, Raise Cumbria’s James and Gary attended the launch event of Forests with Impact at HMP Haverigg in Cumbria.
As national partners, we are proud to support Forests with Impact. This award-winning social enterprise has created a commercial tree nursery at the prison to support prisoner rehabilitation, create a pathway to employment upon release, and fight against climate change.
The project provides prisoners with horticultural skills and addresses the skills shortage in forestry, whilst contributing to our shared goals of planting trees and increasing biodiversity!
It was great to see the 250,000 saplings currently being nurtured by prisoners in two fully operational polytunnels and listen to the moving stories and insights shared by Forests with Impact’s ambassadors and partners.
Supported by both the Forestry Commission and Defra, we’re excited to see Forests with Impact roll out this initiative across UK prisons, to plant millions of tree saplings and create positive social change.
Image is of a member of the Raise Cumbria team speaking at HMP Haverigg
 We are modernising traffic signals across the region, thanks to extra funding for 2024/2025. These upgrades will replace outdated components, improving reliability and efficiency for all road users.
Beyond enhancing the visual quality of traffic signals, the project supports carbon reduction efforts by transitioning to energy-efficient systems. The long-term goal is to implement Extra Low Voltage (ELV) technology at all sites, aligning with Cumberland’s sustainability ambitions.
Future funding will continue this renewal process, with a focus on optimising signal sequencing to ease congestion and create smoother, more efficient journeys for residents, businesses, and visitors.
This investment highlights the council’s commitment to modern infrastructure, ensuring safer and more sustainable travel across the region.
For more information please go to: Lighting the way: Future-proofing traffic signals | Cumberland Council
Image is of some members of our highways team
 We have successfully completed the Flimby Flood Alleviation Scheme, a major project to protect the community from future flooding. This initiative significantly reduces flood risk, improving protection for 49 properties and benefiting many more.
Key works included:
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Diversion of Cat Gill to Bragg Beck
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New surface water drainage in residential areas
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Culvert reconstruction and flood gate improvements
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Construction of embankments and a temporary storage cell
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30 leaky dams and Natural Flood Management measures by West Cumbria Rivers Trust
Funded by a £1.7 million Defra and Environment Agency grant, the project was delivered by Cubby Construction Ltd and completed in March 2024.
This scheme, developed in collaboration with local residents and stakeholders, strengthens Flimby’s flood resilience—helping prevent disasters like those seen during previous storms.
Image is of an aerial shot of Flimby
Please click below to see the results of the national assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk in England 2024
Use this service to find out:
- The long-term flood risk for an area in England
- How climate change might increase the chance of flooding in an area
- The possible causes of flooding
- How to manage flood risk
This service also tells you about an area’s long-term risk from:
- Rivers and the sea
- Surface water
- Reservoirs
- Groundwater (where data is available)
Councillors are being asked to approve the Local Plan for publication and public consultation.
The final draft of the St Cuthbert's Local Plan was put before the Council's Executive on 26 November 2024. Councillors decided that it should proceed to be considered by the Council's Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 22 January 2025. This is the first step in the journey towards publishing the final draft of the St Cuthbert's Local Plan for public consultation. The final step in this process will be to put the draft plan before all councillors at a meeting of the Full Council on 4 March 2025. If agreed, the Local Plan will then be published for public consultation following that meeting.
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Cumbria’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) is a call to action, and a source of inspiration for anyone who wants to play their part in addressing the biodiversity and climate crises. It is a tool to help prioritise nature recovery in the places where it will have the greatest impact for people and nature. Everyone working to address biodiversity loss in Cumbria should feel as if they are contributing to a bigger picture of nature recovery, and that everyone is able to play their part.
Image is of a scene in the Lake District
 Telecoms company, Fibrus, which is delivering government’s Project Gigabit contract in Cumbria, is committed to training 150 members of its staff, alongside those within its supply chain, in Carbon Literacy. The programme is being delivered in partnership with Cumbria Action for Sustainability, with more than 100 people already trained and a further 50 places to be funded before the end of 2025.
The training course is delivered online over two separate 4hr sessions; trainees must attend both sessions, undertake research and make personal and professional pledges to help reduce carbon emission.
Course attendee, Fibrus Graduate Recruit, Andrew Lee from Kendal said, “the course was really thought provoking, with climate change impacting more and more people around the world. I found it useful to consider what individual changes I can make in my life, both personally and professionally which will help to make a difference.”
Image is of the Fibrus logo
The Environment Agency have released a ‘Water Hub’ which makes all their publicly available information and evidence relating to the water environment easy to access from one website. It’s a useful one-stop-shop for all things water related, such as regulation, enforcement and planning.
This is the first stage of consultation for the 2027 River Basin Management Plan. Currently, the RBMP process is expected to follow the same format as it has for previous versions. There will be a ‘Challenges and Choices’ consultation in 2025 and a consultation on the draft plans in 2026 before publication of the updated plans in 2027. This first stage of consultation has three simple questions:
- What strategies and plans need to be considered?
- Who should be involved in updating the RBMPs?
- What would help you engage with these consultations?
 Raise: Cumbria Community Forest is looking for Marketing and Communications Manager to join their team.
This is a new role which has been created to support the continued growth of the organisation.
As a member of a small, dedicated team, this is a hands-on role, requiring both strategic thinking and practical implementation. You will deliver all day-to-day marketing and communications activities, including multichannel campaigns, social media management, and content creation.
There’s also the opportunity to get out of the office to work with foresters, the engagement team and local communities across Cumbria to plant trees, address barriers to accessing green spaces and create a legacy. It’s an exciting time to join the organisation.
For more information and how to apply visit: Join our team: Marketing and Communications Manager — Raise – Cumbria Community Forest
Image reads: Come and join our team
 Throwing batteries in the bin instead of recycling them properly, can lead to serious problems. When batteries get damaged or crushed in waste collection vehicles or landfills, the chemicals and metals inside—like lithium and lead—can spark fires. These fires are dangerous for waste workers, can destroy equipment, and are extremely tough to put out, sometimes burning for days.
Even worse, these fires release toxic fumes that harm both people and the environment. Over time, batteries left in landfills can leak harmful substances into the soil and water, polluting ecosystems and even impacting drinking water.
It’s easy to avoid these risks! By taking used batteries to designated recycling facilities, you’re ensuring they’re handled safely and even giving their materials a second life. It’s a simple step that makes a big difference for safety and the planet. Let’s all do our part!
Image is of a pile of batteries
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