We've just launched a new Community Orchard Grant Scheme to help community groups establish community orchards in their local areas.
As part of celebrations to mark the King’s Coronation, the council has been allocated £50,000 from the Coronation Living Heritage Fund, a local tree planting initiative supported by Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund.
Community groups, charities, schools and community spaces in Westmorland and Furness are encouraged to apply for funding to establish a community orchard in their local area.
A community orchard is a shared space where people can grow fruit and nuts. They are a great way to bring people together, improve the natural environment, and provide access to fresh, local produce.
Grants of up to £15,000 are available to plant a minimum of 5 fruit and/or nut trees. The funding can be used to cover the costs of establishing an orchard such as ground preparation, purchasing and planting trees, and protection and irrigation.
The closing date for applications is 12.00pm on Monday 8 January 2024.
For more information about the scheme and to express your interest, please visit the council’s website or email: FutureTrees@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.
Image description: small ripe fruits of crab apple growing in an orchard.
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Image description: A hand holding stacked coins growing trees.
We have allocated almost £900,000 as part of a new grant fund to support local partnerships to tackle climate change, support nature recovery and ensure a fair transition to a low carbon future for our communities.
A total of 21 grants have successfully been awarded to partnerships across Westmorland and Furness aiming to deliver programmes of work such as peatland restoration, improving invasive species management, creating a community wildlife garden and improving biodiversity:
- Arnside & Silverdale AONB
- Branching out in Barrow
- Community Collective
- Coniston Environment Partnership
- Cumbria Local Visitor Economy Partnership
- Cumbria Peat Partnership
- Cumbria Peatland Restoration Research Partnership
- Eden Catchment Partnership
- Flourishing Ulverston
- Ford Park Community Group
- Land and Nature Skills Service Partnership
- Love Windermere
- Love Windermere Partnership
- Ormsgill Community Garden
- People and Nature Network
- PLACE
- Sustainability and Energy Network in Staveley
- The Life of the Park
- Wild Walney
- Windermere Science Festivals CIC
- Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership
The Climate and Nature Partnership Fund is one of 14 projects representing £5m of priority investments for Westmorland and Furness agreed by the Council's Cabinet, reflecting our key priorities for the area, including funding for local areas, biodiversity and nature, sustainable transport, social care, children, culture and education.
We look forward to sharing more on how the successful grants from this fund will support action to tackle climate change and recover nature.
Throughout October, our Cabinet Member for Climate and Biodiversity, Councillor Giles Archibald, hosted a series of Climate Conversation events across Westmorland and Furness to help shape and inform Part Two of our Climate Action Plan.
The events were open to everyone and were an opportunity for people to hear from us about the impacts of climate change on our area and our response to the climate crisis, but more importantly for people to let us know what they are doing to address climate change, share their views on future actions and ask questions.
Over 200 residents from across the area attended and it was clear that there is a shared ambition to make a difference and work together to raise awareness of climate change and undertake climate action in our area.
The discussions from these events have helped to shape and inform our Climate Action Plan Part Two, with key topics identified such as: prioritising active travel, integrating climate and nature into planning regulations, working with town and parish councils on climate action, and holding more open forums, juries and events to engage with residents and communities.
Didn't get the chance to attend or interested in having your say? Keep an eye out in the New Year for more information about our next conversation series - this time on all things nature.
Image shows: Councillor Giles Archibald speaking at one of the Climate Conversation events.
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Image shows pupils from St Martin and St Mary Church of England Primary School with Cumbria Wildlife Trust Pollinator Conservation Officers, Caitlin Fox and Charlotte Rankin.
It has been a busy year for Planting for Pollinators, a project delivered by Cumbria Wildlife Trust and funded by Westmorland and Furness Council’s Environment Fund.
The project aims to create pollinator-friendly habitats in community spaces, and provide a plan for the area to stay a vibrant site for the next ten years.
Restoration work is being carried out on eleven sites from Biggar Bank on Walney Island, right across to Noble’s Rest in Kendal, with many sites being cut and seeded by local contractors.
Over 17,000 wildflower plug plants and bulbs have then been planted through a huge effort by local volunteers. These fantastic groups include Dalton Community Action Group, Friends of Noble’s Rest, Ford Park volunteers, Ulverston Parish Church volunteers, a Better Biggar Bank, the team at Grange Community Orchard, Arnside and Silverdale AONB volunteers and pupils from St Martin and St Mary Church of England Primary School, as well as Cumbria Wildlife Trust volunteers.
Huge thanks to all those who have given their time to create so many new flower-rich habitats in Westmorland and Furness.
Interested in getting involved?
If you're interested in getting involved in future planting schemes, there’s several schemes planned for next year.
If you live in Barrow, particularly near Holker Street, Blake Street, Wordsworth Street or Lesh Lane, or near School Knott in Windermere - then Cumbria Wildlife Trust will be working in your area soon!
Keep an eye out on Cumbria Wildlife Trust's website for more information coming soon.
Image shows some bees and a butterfly pollinating a flower.
Did you know?
Cumbria is home to approximately 5,000 species of wild insect pollinators, including bumblebees, solitary bees, hoverflies, beetles, butterflies, and moths. and we need to do our bit to help keep their numbers up.
Cumbria’s Plan Bee strategy has been developed by the Cumbria Local Nature Partnership, as part of their Planting for Pollinators project. It highlights a number of actions that everyone in Cumbria can take to help our native insect pollinators. We all depend on pollinators. They play a vital role in our food production, pollinating many fruit and vegetable crops, and are also a key component of our natural world; however, many species are in trouble.
If you’d like to help pollinators on your window sill, in your garden or community greenspace, take a look at the Plan for information on how you can help make a difference.
Simple, free advice is available to help you get on top of your bills, save energy and stay warm this winter.
The following organisations can provide advice on energy bills, information about simple energy efficiency measures to keep your home warm and cosy, and details of any funding you may qualify for.
Citizens Advice – visit citizensadvice.org.uk for advice on energy bill payments, dealing with energy debt, and available grants and funding. The service, which covers the whole of Cumbria, is available to private tenants, social housing tenants and homeowners.
Cumbria Community Foundation (CCF) – for more information about the Winter Warmth Fund, visit: cumbriafoundation.org or call 01900 825760.
Choose - visit choose.co.uk for useful guides on getting help with paying your fuel bills.
Cumbria Action for Sustainability’s Cold to Cosy Homes service helps households across Cumbria to stay warm and dry, save money on their gas, electricity and water bills as well as do their bit for the planet by using less energy.
Everyone can get FREE advice over the phone and for households that are eligible, the service can arrange home visits or an advice telephone call from one of their friendly, trained advisers.
The team can help advise on things from free energy saving and draughtproofing equipment, heating and boiler controls, to helping you understand energy bills, meter readings, smart meters and support you with switching tariff as well as identifying – and applying for - insulation and heating improvement schemes and grants.
To get your free advice session or to check if you’re eligible for more support, visit cosyhomes.org.uk or call 01768 216500.
Image description: two wooden toy houses on a table wrapped in a scarf.
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Until the end of December 2024, the cost of many bus journeys in England will be limited to £2 per trip.
As part of a Government initiative, a maximum £2 single fare will apply on many bus services across Westmorland & Furness and Cumberland, aiming to assist individuals in traveling for education, work, and medical appointments during the current cost of living crisis.
In Cumbria, participating operators include:
- Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire (all services in Cumbria plus 555 to Lancaster and 685 to Newcastle via Hexham)
- Blueworks (11 / X7 / X12 / X60F / X70F)
- Cumbria Classic Coaches (106 / 570 / 571 / 572)
- Go North East (681)
- Kirkby Lonsdale Coache Hire (8 / 9 /75 / 80 / 81 / 82 / 88 / 89 / 530 / 531 / 532 / 550 / 551 / 552 / 580 / 581 / 583)
- Western Dales Bus (S1S S1W, S5, S6)
Only the operators listed above are participating, so normal fares will continue to apply on all other services.
Find out more about fares and bargain tickets.
Find out more about bus services in Westmorland and Furness.
Find out more about community transport.
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As we decorate the house, add presents beneath the tree and the smell of mince pies and mulled wine wafts its way through the house, it's easy to forget about packaging during the festive season.
But could you rethink your festivities to not only prevent and reduce your waste but save money?
Here are some top festive reduce, reuse, recycle tips:
1. Getting into the festive spirit with a Christmas jumper? Use the one from last year, buy from a charity shop or if you're handy with a needle and thread, decorate an old jumper with tinsel, ribbons and bells! One in four Christmas jumpers are thrown away or never worn again so save yourself some money and the planet.
2. Presents to wrap? Why not go for a different look this year and use fabric or reuse old newspapers or magazines. Not only will they stand out in the present pile but save your pocket and help save the environment.
3. Take charge of your batteries. New toys and gadgets often mean new batteries - with people in the UK using 189 million batteries and each household throwing away on average seven batteries over the Christmas period. Remember to recycle the old ones and don't dispose of them in your general household waste as they can cause fires in bin wagons and waste processing plants.
4. Shop second hand. Instead of buying brand new clothes, furniture, electricals, toys or garden tools, why not check out Recycle for Cumbria's map of charity shops and reuse organisations to find a bargain while supporting a good cause or sign up to Freegle to give or get something for free.
5. That's a wrap! Remove ribbons, bows and other adornments before recycling wrapping paper and do the scrunch test - if it doesn't spring back it is non-foil and can be recycled.
Visit the Recycle for Cumbria website for lots of useful information.
Image description: an earth shaped Christmas bauble that reads love your planet and shows a recycle symbol.
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Image description: houses and trees covered in snow with a person in a Santa hat driving a truck with Christmas trees in the back. Text reads Christmas tree collection.
St Mary's Hospice Ulverston volunteers will once again be collecting trees on Friday 12 January and Saturday 13 January 2024 from LA11, LA12, LA13, LA14, LA15, LA16, LA17, LA18, LA19, LA20 and LA21 postcodes.
Make sure you register online before 8 January 2024 to be included. You can scan the QR code to the left or register by visiting just-helping.org.uk
The areas in which the charity is collecting trees covers Ulverston, Barrow, Askam, Cartmel, Dalton, Grange-over-Sands and Millom – a significant proportion of the area in which St Mary's Hospice's services operate.
The charities welcome a donation for the collection of your tree. Last year, the charity collected almost 700 trees, raising £9,000 in donations.
When you give locally, the Hospice are able to spend locally and every single penny they generate is spent directly on delivering care for people in Furness and South Lakes.
No trips to the tip, no needles in car, you will be supporting a local charity AND your tree gets recycled!
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Throughout December, Barrow Library is hosting a FREE Christmas Jumper Swap.
Building on the success of the Library's World Book Day and Halloween Costume Swaps, it's that time of year to get yourself a new-to-you Christmas jumper.
The Library has already received lots of donations and is still accepting donations of adult and children's sizes.
Give your festive jumper a new lease of life, save money and reduce waste.
Why not pop down to the Library and check out their swap rail? Open from Friday 1 December.
Check our website for Barrow Library's opening times.
Image description: a selection of Christmas jumpers.
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How we talk about climate change can inspire and motivate people to act, or make it feel more overwhelming and confusing than it needs to be.
By understanding the issues, we can help explain to others why it's important to act on climate change, the scale of that action and how to be part of that change on an individual and community level.
To help, we'll be sharing useful links and highlighting some great resources that help explain the main issues.
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