Hello and welcome to our first 2026 Environment and Climate Newsletter!
Welcome to the first Climate and Environment newsletter of the year! We’re excited to share the latest updates, community projects and environmental initiatives taking place across Cumberland.
This edition includes important information for residents as the option to pay for additional garden waste bin collections in 2026 is now live. While one garden waste bin continues to be collected every fortnight at no cost, households can request extra bins to be emptied for £40 per year. It is so important that garden waste like all other household waste is collected and not allowed to pollute our neighbourhoods with unsightliness and potentially a range of accidents and infections.
We’re also celebrating the start of the new planting season for Raise: Cumbria Community Forest, with the first trees now in the ground at Ehenside, Cleator Moor. Developed through two years of community conversations and close partnership working, this new woodland reflects a shared vision shaped by residents, schools, local groups and Raise’s neurodivergent‑led approach to inclusive land stewardship. With pupils from Montreal CofE Primary School and members of West House taking part in planting, the project continues to grow through community involvement.
This newsletter also highlights an important safety message as Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, Biffa Waste Services, and the Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness councils work together to tackle the rising number of fires caused by batteries placed in general waste. A new awareness campaign – supported by school competitions, events and the return of our battery‑recycling mascot, Super‑Ewe, aims to help prevent these dangerous incidents. Residents are reminded to take used batteries to supermarket collection points or their nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.
We hope you enjoy this edition and continue to stay involved in the many initiatives helping to protect our environment, support local communities, and build a more sustainable future for Cumberland.
With kindest regards
Bob Kelly
Executive Member for Cumberland Policy and Regulatory Services
Image is of Cumberland Councillor Bob Kelly, Executive Member for Cumberland Policy and Regulatory Services
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Working together, Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Council have procured a consultancy project to carry out a review of the Waste Disposal Contract with Biffa Cumbria Limited. The project will cover three key areas:
- Contract and Commercial Review
- Financial Review and Value for Money Assessment
- Strategic Review and Exit Planning
After evaluating five bids, the contract was awarded to KPMG and work has started which is on track to conclude by the end of March 2026. It is hoped that this consultancy could yield opportunities to improve the financial position with this contract and feed into the long term planning for the expiry of the Waste Disposal Contact in June 2034.
 The option to pay for additional garden waste bin collections for 2026 is now live.
Cumberland residents who want additional garden waste collections are being urged to sign up soon.
All householders with garden waste bins continue to have one bin collected every fortnight, however there is a yearly charge of £40 per additional bin that residents request to be emptied.
You can now make a payment for extra bins on our website.
Image reads: Waste Matters
Alternatively, contact our customer contact team.
Collections are fortnightly between March and November each year. We will collect a maximum of three garden waste bins from a property.
We are aiming to have updated online collections dates available from mid-February.
Please keep on checking www.cumberland.gov.uk/wastechanges for the most up to date information.
 Environment Secretary, Emma Reynolds MP, has announced the extension of the successful Farming in Protected Landscapes programme for a further three years. This is great news for the Solway Coast National Landscape, who over the past four years have delivered the programme in the Solway Coast area. The Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme supports and provides funding for farmers and land managers in England's protected areas, such as National Parks and National Landscapes, to deliver projects that support nature recovery, enhance cultural heritage, improve public access, and help to mitigate climate change. The Solway Coast National Landscape have funded many innovative and highly effective projects via their FiPL programme and are thrilled to continue to do so until March 2029.
Image shows an info graphic of the Farming in Protected Landscape Programme
 Following on from the fantastic discoveries made in Autumn 2025, where an extremely well-preserved section of Hadrian’s Wall was uncovered, Grampus Heritage and Training successfully applied to the Solway Coast National Landscape for further funding from their Farming in Protected Landscapes programme. Fieldwork commenced on Monday 19 January, where the team at Grampus Heritage and Training invited volunteers to help with geophysical surveying on the marshes, taking a closer look at the direction of Hadrian's Wall. Volunteers have also been invited to take part in an excavation behind the Grange, where a previous geophysical survey revealed a circular anomaly, raising many unanswered questions.
This area is becoming quite an archaeological hotspot, stay up to date with the latest news from the fieldwork by following the Solway Coast National Landscape on social media or by signing up to their newsletter.
Image shows some of the volunteers digging at Drumburgh
Try something new this spring at Rebuild Carlisle. They are hosting upcycling, knitting, woodworking & more in friendly, hands-on workshops this Spring.
For more information and to book a place on one of these workshops, visit Rebuild Carlisle Workshops: Spring 2026 | Eventbrite
 Raise: Cumbria Community Forest has marked the start of the new planting season with the first trees going into the ground at Ehenside, Cleator Moor.
Pupils from Montreal CofE Primary School and Cumberland Councillor Michael Eldon joined Raise’s team to celebrate the beginning of this new community woodland.
The Ehenside site, owned by Cumberland Council, has been developed in close partnership with the council and local residents. Over the past two years, community consultation, through Raise’s drop-in sessions and Raise Collective engagement events, has played a vital role in shaping the design of the site. These conversations confirmed local support for creating new woodland and gave residents the chance to share ideas for how the land could be used and enjoyed.
Next week (w/c 9 February), West House members, who had an important role in our community consultation, will also join the planting effort, continuing the community involvement that has guided the project from the start.
Raise’s work focuses on creating accessible green spaces, supporting climate resilience, and fostering inclusive participation, particularly through a neurodivergent, led approach that values diverse ways of working with land and community.
Image shows pupils from Montreal CofE Primary School next to the newly planted trees in Cleator Moor
The recently launched Cumbria Digital Infrastructure Strategy 2026–2030 will play an important role in supporting a better climate for Cumbria. By improving access to reliable broadband and mobile connectivity, the strategy enables more remote working, online services and virtual collaboration, helping to reduce travel‑related carbon emissions. Strong digital infrastructure also supports smarter energy use, environmental monitoring and data‑led decision‑making, improving Cumbria’s ability to adapt to climate change.
In rural and remote communities, better connectivity strengthens resilience by supporting communication during extreme weather events and reducing isolation. Together, these benefits help Cumbria move towards a lower‑carbon, more resilient and sustainable future.
To find out more about online connectivity in your area, visit the Connecting Cumbria website.
Image shows a science and tech clip art
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 At the end of last year, Fibrus was pleased to mark the impact of the Get Cumbria Buzzing Not Buffering project, delivered in partnership with Cumbria Wildlife Trust.
Funded by £150,000 from Fibrus, the initiative has supported the creation of 15 wildflower sites across Cumbria, including Workington, Whitehaven and Brampton, helping communities establish pollinator-friendly meadows and restore vital habitats.
With over 15,000 wildflower plugs planted, 3,800 bulbs planted and more than 50kg of Cumbrian wildflower seed scattered, the project is already showing visible success - including increased numbers of the rare small blue butterfly in West Cumbria. Fibrus colleagues also joined local volunteers at community planting days to help bring these sites to life.
Fibrus are proud to have played our part in protecting these natural treasures, and seeing communities get involved has been the highlight of it all.
Image shows some primary school children taken at one of the Get Buzzing not Buffering visit days
Fibrus is proud to have over 150 colleagues Carbon Literacy trained, helping build the knowledge and confidence to take practical action on carbon reduction at work and at home.
Delivered by Futureproof Cumbria through The Carbon Literacy Project, the training connects our teams to a global community of more than 150,000 people across 47 nations committed to meaningful climate action.
In Vienna on 24 November, Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Gosling Sike nature reserve in Carlisle won a prestigious European Award for Ecological Gardening in the category of ‘Gardening Focused on the Community’.
This prestigious award, given once every two years, is open to participants across Europe and forms part of the European Garden Association ‘Natur im Garten’ (nature in the garden) initiative. Cumbria Wildlife Trust was originally introduced to this initiative by Garden Organic, the charity which runs the Cumbria Master Composter volunteer scheme and also has a home compost demonstration site at Gosling Sike. Garden Organic encouraged Cumbria Wildlife Trust to submit their winning entry to the competition.
Winning this award highlights the incredible community at Gosling Sike and the contributions of everyone who uses the space from volunteers, local groups and staff who have helped make the site a renowned hub for both people and nature. Well done to everyone.
 Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, Biffa Waste Services, and the Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness councils are working together to highlight the dangers of batteries being placed in general waste. Lithium‑ion batteries can ignite if damaged or crushed, and with more battery‑powered items in our homes, waste facilities and collection vehicles are seeing a sharp rise in related fires both locally and nationally.
To tackle this growing issue, partners are running awareness campaigns, school competitions, events and media activity. A schools battery‑recycling competition is already underway, and new videos featuring our battery‑recycling sheep, Super‑Ewe, have been launched to reinforce key messages.
More activity will follow in the coming months. Please remember that batteries must never go in either recycling or general waste. Used household batteries can be taken to collection points in supermarkets or to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Image reads: The risks of disposing vapes and batteries
A new “Rewear Revolution” is coming to Rheged on Saturday 28 February. This first‑of‑its‑kind Cumbrian event brings together Restore charity shops and the Cumbria Clothing Collective to encourage more conscious clothing choices, highlight the environmental impact of fast fashion, and showcase opportunities to re‑use, re‑wear, repair and re‑sell garments.
Attendees can explore ways to mend, upcycle and recycle everyday clothing, sportswear and outdoor kit, with experts from across the UK and beyond. Through films, panel discussions and practical activities, the event aims to inspire more sustainable habits and reduce clothing waste in Cumbria.
Our hosted waste reduction team, including colleagues from Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council, will share a new online clothing repair directory and invite visitors to complete a short clothing questionnaire. Anyone taking part will receive a repair kit or pre‑loved fabric. Entry is free, with workshops priced at £10 (subject to availability).
Expect a full day of:
- Inspiring films and panel discussions
- Hands‑on repair workshops
- A sustainable fashion show
- Clothes swap with styling and colour advice
- Demonstrations from leading mending and repair innovators
For more information go to: https://rheged.com/rewear-revolution/
Last year, the Carlisle waste and recycling team carried out assessments on properties that do not currently use wheeled bins for general waste. Many households have continued using gull‑proof sacks due to access issues, and the assessments helped the team confirm whether each property is suitable for a wheeled bin.
Following the review, around 3,000 residents received letters in December outlining their property’s status: unsuitable, possibly suitable or suitable for a wheeled bin. Households were invited to contact the council if they believed the assessment was incorrect or if there were any additional storage or access concerns.
In early January, four support and advice roadshows were held in affected areas, including Wigton Road, Brampton, Greystone Road and Denton Holme. These well‑attended events gave residents the chance to speak directly with the team, explore storage options and request additional gull‑proof sacks ahead of the move to fortnightly collections.
Further assessments are now underway and will be completed by mid‑February. When new wheeled bins are delivered later that month, the team will be confident that residents have had every opportunity to share feedback and receive the service that best meets their needs.
 The Cumberland waste team was recently invited by Tetra Pak to visit the Cumbria Waste Management Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Carlisle. As part of the visit, the team viewed newly installed AI‑powered optical sorting technology, the first of its kind in the UK.
Developed by British start‑up Recycleye and funded by Tetra Pak, the Recycleye QuantiSort® system uses artificial intelligence and high‑resolution cameras to identify beverage cartons such as juice and milk cartons within the mixed recycling stream. Once detected, pneumatic valves automatically separate the cartons so they can be sent on for recycling.
The system can be trained far more easily than traditional sorting equipment and is already achieving over 98% carton purity. This investment means Cumbria Waste Management can now sort cartons more effectively and efficiently, enabling the council to collect cartons at the kerbside with plastics, cans and glass, supporting further improvements to local recycling rates.
This upgrade is another important step towards meeting upcoming government requirements under Simpler Recycling, which will ensure consistent recycling services and materials collected across the country.
Image shows Cumbria team (Cumbria Waste staff Chris Fisher, Michael Duncan, Chris Scott) with QS2
We have launched a new online eligibility checker to help residents quickly find out if they qualify for home energy efficiency improvements.
The tool combines the Warm Homes Local Grant and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Scheme into one simple platform, making it easier to check eligibility and register for support.
Eligible households could benefit from upgrades like solar panels, insulation, and heating improvements, helping reduce fuel poverty and improve home comfort.
The tool was developed through strong collaboration between Housing and Digital teams, showcasing the power of cross-departmental working to deliver better services for residents.
All residents are encouraged to check their eligibility at www.cumberland.gov.uk/warmhomes
Image shows a house wrapped up in a scarf to represent warm homes
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The first project that forms part of the £22.5 million Cleator Moor Town Deal has been completed.
Part of the ‘Revitalised Town’ scheme, the PEC Phase 3 building has undergone complete refurbishment, with a new internal layout to improve accessibility and how the space is used.
Works have been undertaken by Thomas Armstrong Construction on behalf of Cumberland Council. The architect was Day Cummins Ltd.
The works have included:
- New roof with better insulation
- New solar panels added to the roof
- New power and data infrastructure
- New timber double-glazed windows
- New lift to improve disabled access
- New fixtures, fittings, decoration throughout
- Improved fire-stopping measures
- External wall repointing and cleaning
 In November 2025, the Solway Coast National Landscape team, in partnership with Cumberland Council, proudly unveiled a new artwork capturing the unique beauty and character of the Solway Coast.
Following a summer of creative collaboration with Botcherby Community Centre and Carlisle-based artist Ameena Khatun, the final piece - Seascape Vista, was revealed to the public. Earlier in the year, community members visited the National Landscape for inspiration, exploring the sweeping sands of Allonby Bay and the quiet wetlands of Crosscanonby Carr. Many described being “blown away” by the wildlife, views and sense of space they discovered.
Artist Ameena Khatun then brought the group’s sketches, words and reflections together into a vibrant artwork that tells the story of their coastal experiences.
Seascape Vista represents true community co-creation. The Solway Coast team, supported by Cumberland Council, plans to display the piece at several venues between Carlisle and the coast, inspiring new audiences and encouraging people to explore their local National Landscape.
Image shows a group photo taken at the Seascape Vista reveal organised by the Solway Coast National Landscape
The Nutrient Neutrality Northwest Partnership has relaunched under its new name: Cumbria Nutrient Neutrality (CumbriaNN), and alongside a refreshed identify, the new dedicated website is now live.
The site is now the single home for:
- Planning and validation guidance for developers
- Resources for property and landowners, including non-mains drainage upgrades and mitigation opportunities
- Updates on partnership projects and future credit trading
Natural England has confirmed adjustments to the River Eden Nutrient Neutrality catchment boundary in Cumbria, reflecting improved environmental conditions and water quality. As a result, some major urban areas – including Carlisle, Brampton and Wetheral – are no longer subject to all Nutrient Neutrality requirements.
Welcomed by the Cumbria Nutrient Neutrality Partnership (Cumberland Council, Westmorland and Furness Council, and the Lake District National Park Authority), the changes represent a significant step forward for sustainable development while maintaining environmental protections.
The updated boundary means around 50 previously stalled planning applications can now progress, including over 500 affordable homes, with more than 3,000 planned homes benefiting overall.
Nutrient Neutrality requirements will remain in place for other parts of the River Eden catchment and for the Derwent & Bassenthwaite, River Kent and Esthwaite Water catchments, where further improvements are still needed.
The Partnership is reviewing the implications and will provide further planning guidance in due course.
 Cumberland Council has made a major investment to improve local bus services, creating new and enhanced routes that make travelling to and from Carlisle easier, greener, and more convenient.
Several routes have been introduced or upgraded between November 2024 and January 2026, including:
New and improved bus services now running across Cumberland:
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60: Silloth ↔ Maryport
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30: Maryport ↔ Egremont & Cleator Moor (including a Sunday service)
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300: Workington ↔ Carlisle (continuing the half‑hourly service)
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MD1: Maryport ↔ Dearham
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68: Cockermouth ↔ Maryport
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C123: Cockermouth Town Service
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93: Carlisle ↔ Anthorn (early‑morning Carlisle service on every school weekday)
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93S: Carlisle ↔ Anthorn (Sunday service)
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71: Carlisle ↔ Kirkbampton, Kirkbride & Anthorn/Wigton
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64: Durdar ↔ Carlisle via Currock
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X7/7: Whitehaven ↔ Barrow (links to Ravenglass, Millom, Barrow and West Cumberland Hospital)
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M1: Millom & Haverigg Town Service
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32: Whitehaven ↔ St Bees & Egremont
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600: Carlisle ↔ Cumberland Infirmary, Cockermouth, Whitehaven, West Cumberland Hospital
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22/22A: Whitehaven ↔ Cleator Moor, Egremont & West Cumberland Hospital
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HWI: Carlisle ↔ Gilsland & Roman Army Museum, Walltown Country Park
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1/1A: Parton ↔ Rosehill, Moresby Parks
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DR1: Carlisle City ↔ South Carlisle Health Centre & Carleton Clinic
Full timetables and maps are available at Find a bus | Cumberland Council. Why not hop on board and discover the difference?
Cumberland Go - connecting communities one journey at a time!
Image shows some Cumberland Council members of staff holding up two of the new bus routes on a sign
Did you know Cumberland Council is using innovative technology to make reporting highway issues quicker and more accurate? If you spot a problem with roads, traffic lights, streetlights, drains, or pavements, let us know so we can fix it fast!
You can report issues online at https://bit.ly/ReportAProblemCumberland or call our Highways Hotline on 0300 373 3736. The sooner we know, the sooner we can help, so #HelpUsToHelpYou and get reporting!
For precise locations, try using What3Words, a smart tool that gives every location a unique three-word address. This helps our teams find and fix problems quickly. Learn more at https://bit.ly/What3WordsInfo
We also use One.Network, a platform that provides real-time roadwork and traffic updates, helping us keep Cumberland moving.
Together, we can make our roads safer and more efficient, one report at a time!
 There’s always something to enjoy at Workington Market, and across all our brilliant markets throughout Cumberland!
From fresh local produce to handmade crafts, unique gifts, clothing, and treats, our markets are a fantastic way to shop local, support small businesses, and enjoy the heart of our communities.
Workington Market – Wednesdays and Saturdays Discover a lively mix of stalls right in the town centre.
And there’s plenty more to explore across Cumberland:
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Keswick Market – Thursdays and Saturdays
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Silloth Market – Every Thursday (Easter to October)
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Wigton Market – Fridays
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Carlisle Open-Air Market – Fridays at the newly refurbished Greenmarket and Market Square
Whether you’re picking up fresh food, hunting for gifts, or just enjoying the atmosphere, there’s a market nearby waiting to be explored.
Come along and see what’s on offer at your nearest market, you might just find a new favourite stall!
If you’re a trader interested in getting involved, we’d love to hear from you. Email: Phil.Byers@cumberland.gov.uk
Spaces are limited and interest has been high.
Image of Keswick Market
 A big thank you to the Carlisle Ramblers & Fellwalking Club, who recently carried out their first-ever community litter pick across The Swifts, Stonyholme and The Sheepmount.
What began as a routine tidy‑up quickly turned into a larger task than expected, but an impressive 33 volunteers took part, collecting 40 bags of litter in total. Their efforts have made a noticeable difference to these local areas, and we are grateful for their commitment and community spirit.
If you’re interested in joining the initiative, becoming a Litter Champion of know someone who would like to help, please contact: wasteos@cumberland.gov.uk
Image shows the Carlisle Ramblers & Fellwalking Club taking part in their litter pick
On 27 November 2025, ten of the UK’s leading experts briefed an invited audience of over 1,200 politicians and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media with the latest implications for health, food, national security and the economy.
Read more here: National Emergency Briefing on climate & nature
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