Hello and welcome to our Environment and Climate Newsletter!
Surplus furniture from the Carlisle Library refurbishment is continuing to benefit local communities thanks to a partnership with Carlisle-based social enterprise, The Rebuild Site CIC.
Rather than being discarded, shelving and storage units were donated for reuse, helping to reduce waste while supporting charities, community groups, businesses and residents across the city.
The furniture has already been put to a variety of uses, including improving storage in workshops, garages and allotments. A local vehicle workshop purchased 30 units to help reorganise its workspace, while community organisations have also benefited.
Items have helped furnish Afrikana CIC's new community hub in Carlisle, creating a welcoming space for local residents, and donated shelving is also being used in Eden Valley Hospice's new charity shop, which will generate vital income to support its care services.
The project highlights the positive environmental and social impact of reuse and partnership working.
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 The Rebuild Site has been awarded £19,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund to expand its community repair and reuse activities over the next two years.
The funding will support the creation of a new part-time Community Repair & Reuse Officer role, helping deliver more repair cafés, workshops, school visits and community sessions across Carlisle and the surrounding area.
Since opening in 2021, The Rebuild Site has supported hundreds of community projects with free materials, facilitated more than 1,000 tool loans through its Tool Library, and worked with schools, charities and community groups to promote reuse.
The new programme will provide practical opportunities for people to learn repair and maintenance skills, reduce waste and take positive environmental action. It will also create new volunteering opportunities, enabling local people to share their skills and support activities in their communities.
Emma Porter, CEO and Founder of The Rebuild Site, said:
"The funding would help expand opportunities for residents to save money, build confidence and embrace a stronger culture of repair and reuse".
 The Solway Coast National Landscape recently hosted a successful Hedgerow Cookery event at Blue Dial Farm, Allonby, bringing people together to explore the landscape. The event encouraged participants to connect with the National Landscape, enjoy the wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors and gain a greater appreciation of the valuable resources that nature can provide.
Under the expert guidance of John Crouch, attendees enjoyed a leisurely stroll along the historic countryside hedgerows surrounding the farm. Along the way, John identified a variety of seasonal edible plants and fruits, sharing his extensive knowledge of sustainable foraging.
Following the walk, the group returned to Blue Dial Farm for an engaging cookery demonstration. Using fresh foraged ingredients, John showcased how these natural resources can be transformed into a range of delicious seasonal recipes. Participants then had the opportunity to sample the dishes, enjoying a selection of tasty creations.
The menu included: Hedgerow Salad, Honeysuckle Salad, Hazelnut Trout, Plantain Saag Aloo and Compote of Early Fruits.
Next event: Historical Cookery - 12 September 2026
Discover how people have used locally available ingredients through the centuries and gain an insight into the rich cultural heritage of the Solway Coast.Be the first to hear when tickets are released by signing up to the Solway Coast National Landscape newsletter!
A project led by Cumbria Wildlife Trust and funded by Fibrus is reversing the decline in Cumbria's wildflower meadows, with thousands of insect-friendly wildflowers planted across the county.
Get Cumbria Buzzing Not Buffering, has created 15 wildflower sites over the past three years, working with local councils and landowners across West Cumbria, the Lakes, Eden, Brampton and Barrow. Fibrus contributed £150,000 to fund the project, which is run by the trust.
The Hyperfast team recently revisited Town View Fields on Windermere Road in Kendal, where the results proved rewarding, with the site teeming with wildlife, including rabbits, birds, bees and butterflies. Seeing nature flourish in a space they've helped support is exactly what the project is about.
Thanks were extended to John and Liz Wright, the husband-and-wife team who care for Town View Fields and Nobles Rest, whose dedication has been vital to the project's success. Fibrus remains committed to supporting projects delivering lasting environmental benefits for Cumbria's communities and wildlife.
 Young people from nine schools and colleges across West Cumbria recently showcased their sustainability projects as part of the Centre for Leadership Change's Leading Change programme, delivered in partnership with Sellafield Ltd through its SiX (Social Impact Multiplied) fund.
The 12-week programme supports students to develop projects linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with mentoring from local businesses and funding to bring their ideas to life.
A celebration event at Lakes College on 8 July highlighted a range of inspiring initiatives, including improved school recycling systems, a swap shop promoting reuse and sustainable consumption, and the creation of a "Thrive Box" to support neurodivergent pupils.
Cumberland Council's waste team and Biffa attended the event, where students presented their projects and took part in a panel discussion.
The projects continue until the end of the academic year, but they have already made a positive impact on both local communities and the young people involved. Well done to everyone who took part.
 This summer, the Solway Coast National Landscape team have hosted a series of bird ringing demonstrations, with one session still to take place this August.
The very popular demonstration event gives participants a unique opportunity to learn more about the birds that call the Solway Coast home. Led by experienced and licensed bird ringers, attendees were able to observe the safe handling, identification and recording of a variety of species while gaining an insight into the valuable role bird ringing plays in conservation research.
Attendees enjoyed seeing birds up close and learning about the importance of the Solway Coast's habitats for both resident and migratory species. The events provided an engaging and memorable experience for people of all ages, helping to foster a greater appreciation of the Solway Coast National Landscape’s rich wildlife and the work being undertaken to protect it.
If you would like to hear about future Solway Coast National Landscape events, please sign up to their newsletter or visit their website and social media pages.
 The Solway Coast National Landscape team, in partnership with Cumberland Council's Countryside Access team, has launched a new volunteer programme to help monitor the King Charles III England Coast Path along the Solway coastline.
The initiative gives volunteers the opportunity to play an active role in caring for this nationally significant walking route. Volunteers will help identify maintenance issues, report changes to path conditions and monitor infrastructure along the route, helping to ensure the path remains safe, accessible and welcoming for residents and visitors.
As well as supporting the long-term management of the coast path, the programme offers a great opportunity to explore the Solway Coast National Landscape, enjoy time outdoors and learn more about the area's rich natural, cultural and historic heritage.
Anyone interested in getting involved can find out about the latest volunteering opportunities by signing up to the Solway Coast National Landscape volunteer newsletter.
Cumberland's Community Panels have now invested more than £2 million in local projects since their launch, with almost £350,000 supporting climate and nature initiatives.
Figures up to April 2026 show the eight panels have invested £2,015,021 in communities across Cumberland. Of this, £348,851 (17%) has supported 100 climate and nature projects, helping to enhance biodiversity, improve green spaces and encourage sustainable living.
Over the past three years, investment in climate and nature projects has totalled £103,312 (25%) in 2023-24, £102,614 (13%) in 2024-25 and £142,925 (18%) in 2025-26.
Now entering their fourth year, Community Panels continue to give residents a direct voice in how funding is spent, supporting projects that make a positive difference to local communities and the environment.
Reliable digital connectivity is helping to reduce carbon emissions across Cumbria. Fast broadband and mobile networks enable more people to work remotely, reducing long car journeys and lowering transport-related emissions which is particularly important in a rural county where travel distances can be significant.
Better connectivity also provides easier access to public services, healthcare, education and training online, helping residents save time while cutting unnecessary travel. Businesses can collaborate virtually with customers and suppliers, reducing their environmental impact and improving resilience.
Strong digital networks support technologies that improve energy efficiency, including smart meters, connected heating systems and environmental monitoring tools. These help households, farms and organisations use resources more effectively and reduce waste.
With nearly 97% of premises now able to access superfast broadband, 87% benefiting from gigabit-capable speeds, and over 99% of properties in Cumbria covered by outdoor 4G from at least one provider, Cumbria is leading the way in rural connectivity.
Find out more via the Connecting Cumbria website.
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 Recycle Now, the national recycling campaign, has launched a new Refill Locator. The tool helps households across the UK search for nearby refill locations for food, personal care and cleaning products. The Refill Locator aims to break down barriers to refill shopping by showing people where to shop and how to use refillable packaging.
Recycle Now has mapped the locations of 675 refill stores throughout the UK from Brighton to Edinburgh. Local authorities with refill stores in their area are welcome to embed the widget on their own webpages - contact PartnerEnquiries@wrap.org.uk for more information.
A new byelaw to protect the Allonby Bay Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMA) has now been confirmed and came into effect on 30 July 2026.
The Allonby Bay Highly Protected Marine Area Anchoring Byelaw 2025, confirmed on 16 July 2026, prohibits all anchoring activity within the HPMA boundary. The measure marks an important milestone in the ongoing protection of the area and will support the recovery of marine species, habitats and the natural processes that sustain them.
The byelaw is designed to safeguard the unique marine environment of Allonby Bay, helping it recover and thrive for future generations while contributing to wider conservation efforts along the Cumbrian coast.
For further information and to view the full byelaw, visit: Allonby Bay Highly Protected Marine Area Anchoring Byelaw 2025 on GOV.UK.
 Our Pride in Cumberland initiative is now underway, bringing a coordinated approach to improving the look and feel of neighbourhoods across the area.
The programme focuses on delivering high-quality street cleaning and environmental improvements, with ten priority locations identified across Carlisle, Workington, Whitehaven and Millom for the first phase.
Working collaboratively, teams from across the council are contributing to this effort, including:
- Street cleaning
- Highways
- Environmental enforcement
- Green spaces
Key activities include:
- Deep cleaning of streets and bins
- Removal of chewing gum and graffiti
- Washing and refreshing street furniture
- Gully and drain clearance
- Small-scale road maintenance
- Targeted dog fouling awareness messaging in hotspot areas
Environmental Enforcement Officers are also attending sites to engage with residents, provide advice and answer questions.
The areas completed to date are already looking fantastic and are making a visible difference to our communities.
 This August, children aged under 16 can travel for free on Cumberland Go bus services, including Stagecoach routes, thanks to the UK Government's Great British Summer Savings initiative.
We know the school holidays can put extra pressure on family budgets. By removing the cost of bus travel for children throughout August, families can save money and enjoy more days out across Cumberland and beyond.
From 1–31 August, free child travel on participating bus services across England will make it easier and more affordable to visit attractions, enjoy family days out, meet friends and relatives, or simply explore somewhere new.
Alongside free bus travel, Great British Summer Savings includes a range of discounts and offers at family attractions, helping you make the most of the summer holidays.
Find out more about Great British Summer Savings at https://summersavings.gov.uk/
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