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Taste Cumbria is back in Cockermouth this weekend for more food, drink and family fun - 15 years on from where the festival started.
The event kicks off with a new attraction on Friday 26 September. The Market Place Chill Out will see hot food, cold drinks and live music from vocalist Luke Matear from 7pm to 9pm.
Then the full festival takes place from 10am on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September across four locations. All the producers’ stalls and the Demo Stage will be on Main Street, the ever-popular Street Party takes place on Market Place, there will be more attractions at the newly-reopened Jennings Brewery, while the festival fairground will be on Memorial Gardens Car Park.
The Taste Cumbria festivals are organised by Cumberland Council and the sponsors and supporters for this event are Cockermouth Town Council, The Coffee Kitchen Bakery, Milburns Solicitors and Rock With.
A park-and-walk is available from land at the rear of the Lakes Home Centre, Low Road, for visitors to the festival.
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Also in this week's edition:
With only days to go until some waste and recycling collection dates change in the Cumberland area, former Allerdale and Copeland residents are being urged to check their updated calendars.
The changes will start from week commencing Monday 29 September.
Copeland and Allerdale residents:
• Keep an eye out for a letter explaining any changes to your collection days.
•There will be an increased frequency of kerbside cardboard and paper in the former Allerdale area. Collections will be every two weeks rather than every four weeks from week commencing 29 September for the majority of households.
An additional 6,000 households will also soon benefit from an improved kerbside recycling service.
We have written to households in the former Allerdale and Copeland areas to update them on the expansion of our kerbside service.
Some rural households will have recycling collected for the first time, and some will have their service expanded to the whole list of recyclables, including TetraPak, plastics, tin, cans, glass, cardboard and paper.
Recycling bins will be delivered to households from September onwards. Residents are advised to only place recycling in the bins provided.
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We have been supporting this year’s Recycle Week (22 - 28 September 2025), which this year has focused on overcoming the barriers that prevent people from recycling as much as they can.
Organised by WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme), Recycle Week aims to raise public awareness of recycling, explain why it matters, and inspire everyone to recycle more of the right things.
WRAP’s research shows that while the majority of people in the UK want to recycle, confusion remains one of the biggest challenges. Almost half of households (49%) are unsure whether certain items can be recycled. This uncertainty leads to:
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Wish-cycling - placing non-recyclable items in the recycling bin in the hope they will be sorted later.
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Missed opportunities - where recyclable materials end up in general waste rather than being collected for recycling.
Every year, billions of everyday items - from foil trays and yoghurt pots to aerosol cans and shampoo bottles - are lost to landfill or incineration, despite being widely collected at the kerbside.
We are urging all residents to take part in Recycle Week 2025 and help ensure that more recyclable materials are captured, reducing waste and protecting the environment.
Work on the Cumberland Sports Village in Workington took a step closer this week, with the submission of a planning application for the development.
Within the planning submission, it says that the development will “..create a high quality, inclusive and accessible venue for the football and rugby clubs and benefit the wider community with the addition of new sporting facilities for all to enjoy.”
Supported by UK Government Town Deal, Cumberland Council and Football Foundation funding, the Cumberland Sports Village (CSV) project presents a fantastic opportunity to create a modern, fit-for-purpose stadium facility for both Workington AFC Official and Workington Town Rugby League Football Club.
As well as sport, the stadium would also act as a focal point for both the community and businesses within the area. An improved hospitality offer means the stadium could also be used for meetings, conferences, functions, events and community activities.
A new skatepark is coming to Hammond’s Pond. Check out the designs, in the images, for the brand-new addition to the park.
Set just behind the old (now demolished) aviary building, this exciting project will be starting soon. Stay tuned for updates as work begins!
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The opportunity to have a say on how Cumberland’s economy could grow in the future is available as part of a consultation launched today (Friday 26 September).
Cumberland Council is developing an Economic and Inclusive Growth Strategy for the Cumberland area, and views are being sought on its vision and objectives.
The strategy will outline key priorities and actions to drive local economic growth and will be aligned to local, regional and national policy.
The Cumberland Economic and Inclusive Growth Strategy is currently being developed, and the views of local residents and businesses is sought as part of a four-week consultation available at consult.cumberland.gov.uk
The online consultation runs until Friday 17 October with printed copies available at the Civic Centre and Cumbria House, Carlisle, the Market Hall, Whitehaven and Allerdale House, Workington.
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We are preparing a new Local Plan and we want to hear from you.
The Issues and Options consultation is a chance to tell us about any planning issues and opportunities in the Cumberland area. We are also welcoming ideas regarding how planning policy might address them.
We are holding drop-in events across Cumberland, with the opportunity to speak to council officers and ask questions.
• *NEW DATE* Seascale Library: Friday 26 September, 2.30pm - 5pm.
• Aspatria Library: Monday 29 September, 11.30am - 3.30pm.
• Dalston Victory Hall: Tuesday 30 September, 1.30pm - 7pm.
In October, our events will be held on:
• Maryport Town Hall: Tuesday 2 October 9.30am - 4.30pm.
• Longtown Library: Monday 6 October, 1.30pm - 4.30pm.
• Millom Tin Chapel: Wednesday 8 October, 10am - 3pm.
• Wigton Market Hall: Monday 13 October, 9.30am - 4.30pm.
• Whitehaven United Reform Church: Thursday 16 October, 10.30am - 4.30pm.
• Carlisle The Lanes (East Tower Lane): Friday 17 October, 9.30am - 4.30pm.
• Frizington Library: Monday 20 October, 2.15pm - 4.45pm.
• Silloth Library: Wednesday 22 October, 11am - 3pm.
The consultation documents, an easy to use online questionnaire, and a list of Frequently Asked Questions are available at cumberland.gov.uk/local-plan
Consultation on the Issues and Options for the Cumberland Local Plan runs until Friday 31 October 2025.
Did you catch the Solway Coast National Landscape on BBC Countryfile last weekend (Sunday 21 September 2025)? If not, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.
In early September Solway Coast National Landscape (SCNL) staff were thrilled to welcome BBC Countryfile to Mawbray Banks Nature Reserve alongside special guest, Howard Inns, vice chairman of the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC). Together they took a closer look into the life of the highly protected natterjack toads who call Mawbray Banks their home.
Mawbray Banks Nature Reserve is a thriving coastal dune system, which is carefully managed and provides an ideal habitat for this endangered species of toad. The camera crew captured the hard work of SCNL volunteers, discussed management techniques with staff and were even lucky enough to witness these elusive amphibians making the most of their sandy surroundings.
The episode also features many of the Solway Coast National Landscape’s partner organisations, including RSPB, Natural England and Castletown Estate, all who proudly represented this wonderful place we call home.
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What is colour? Why does it mean different things in different cultures and times? And how has colour been linked to power, value, and even prejudice?
This autumn, Tullie invites visitors to experience colour as never before in Colour: A Season of Shades, Tints and Tones. Running from 27 September to 25 January, this major touring exhibition and accompanying programme of events explores how colour has shaped art, identity, culture, politics, and perception across centuries and continents.
From the deep blues of religious iconography to the fiery reds of protest, the exhibition reveals how colour is far more than just something we see. It is something we feel, express, celebrate, and sometimes even fear. Packed with vibrant artworks, surprising stories, and interactive displays, the exhibition will challenge visitors to rethink their relationship with colour in all its emotional, symbolic, and sensory dimensions.
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Join Team Cumberland
See if there is a job for you at Cumberland Council on our jobs page. You can also find out more about life at the council on our dedicated careers page.
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