Cumbria CVS Green Blog No 19 – September 2025
September 9, 2025
Welcome back to Cumbria CVS Green!
In our nineteenth blog post, Emily Wilson, our South Lakes & Furness Development Officer, looks at funding, farming, and sustainability, including Nature Rich Miterdale, Tree Council funding, conservation grazing and more.
If you have any suggestions about what you’d like to see in our regular updates, let us know! Contact us by emailing info@cumbriacvs.org.uk
You can find our what we’re doing to minimise our environmental impact and find details of organisations supporting positive environmental action in Cumbria on our Climate Commitment page here
Catch up on our other blog posts here
🌳 Building a Greener Future in Cumbria: Funding, Farming, and Sustainability 🌿🐴
With a background in farming and conservation, I’m passionate about helping organisations, landowners, and individuals embed environmental resilience into their projects. Having worked closely with rural communities and environmental initiatives, I’ve seen firsthand both the challenges and opportunities involved in creating a greener future.
From supporting local businesses to navigating funding applications, I understand the hurdles faced by those striving to make a difference. Through this blog, I hope to share insights, funding opportunities, and practical sustainability strategies that can help organisations make a lasting environmental impact.
Nature Rich Miterdale
After attending the Millom Third Sector Networking Event and talking with Nature Rich Miterdale, I was truly inspired by their incredible work. Nature Rich Miterdale is dedicated to promoting biodiversity and sustainable practices in the Miterdale Valley. Their work includes:
- Tree Planting: They focus on planting native trees to restore natural habitats and enhance local biodiversity
- Community Engagement: They involve local communities in conservation efforts, fostering a sense of stewardship and connection to nature
- Education: They provide educational programmes to raise awareness about the importance of environmental conservation and sustainable living
- Habitat Restoration: They work on restoring degraded landscapes, ensuring that wildlife can thrive in healthy ecosystems
Nature Rich Miterdale’s dedication to creating a greener, healthier environment is a testament to the positive impact we can all make.
Funding
Branching Out Funding: Apply Now for the 2025/26 Planting Season!
Exciting news for all green thumbs and community champions! The Tree Council is now accepting applications for the Branching Out Fund, offering grants ranging from £250 to £2,500. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools, community groups, charities, and other organisations across the UK to embark on tree-planting projects during the 2025/26 Winter planting season.
What Can You Fund?
- Native Trees: Bare root, UK-sourced and grown, native trees
- Hedging Projects: UK-sourced and grown, bare-root whips and cell-grown stock
- Hedgerow Trees: Perfect for enhancing biodiversity
- Orchards: Fruit trees on various rootstocks
- Eco-Friendly Materials: Cardboard/bioplastic tree guards, non-plastic ties, and mulch
- Sustainable Stakes: Coppiced chestnut or hazel, or machined softwood
Important Dates:
- Application Deadline: 14 November 2025 (midnight)
- Project Completion: Planting must be completed, and claim forms submitted by 15 March 2026 (midnight)
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to green your community and contribute to a healthier planet.
For more details, visit The Tree Council’s website or contact myself directly at emily.wilson@cumbriacvs.org.uk
Conservation Grazing: A Natural Approach to Land Stewardship
One area I’m particularly passionate about is conservation grazing—a practice that uses livestock to maintain biodiversity and preserve natural habitats. Traditional breeds, such as the Fell Pony, play an essential role in this process. As a proud Fell Pony owner, I’ve seen firsthand how these incredible animals help prevent scrub overgrowth, maintain open landscapes for wildlife, and sustain Cumbria’s historic farming traditions.
Conservation grazing provides a low-impact, eco-friendly method for managing land while supporting biodiversity. Through my work with the Fell Pony Society, I’ve connected with other individuals committed to protecting traditional breeds and using them to enhance ecosystems. These practices demonstrate that sustainability isn’t just about modern solutions—it’s also about rediscovering and valuing time-tested approaches to environmental stewardship.
Funding Sustainability: The Walney Extension Community Fund
One of the most significant funding opportunities for environmental projects in Cumbria is the Walney Extension Community Fund. Funded by Ørsted’s Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm, this initiative provides £600,000 annually to support community and environmental projects. Grants range from £500 to £50,000, helping organisations implement sustainability initiatives that benefit local communities. The fund is open to projects that focus on:
- Renewable energy and carbon reduction
- Biodiversity conservation and habitat restoration
- Environmental education and awareness
- Community-led sustainability initiatives
With two funding rounds each year, organisations can apply for grants to strengthen their environmental impact and contribute to Cumbria’s sustainability goals. If you’re working on a project that aligns with these priorities, I highly encourage you to explore this funding opportunity. You can find more details and application deadlines here.
Looking Ahead: Supporting Sustainability in Cumbria
I’m eager to help organisations access the support they need to embed sustainability into their work. Whether it’s funding guidance, environmental strategy development, or community networking.
📩 Get in touch: If you’re interested in developing a sustainability policy, securing funding, or learning more about environmental initiatives, feel free to reach out at emily.wilson@cumbriacvs.org.uk
Training and Events
Organic September
1st – 30th September. Organic September is an annual celebration held throughout the month of September, promoting the benefits of organic farming and produce.
Organised by the Soil Association, this campaign encourages people to choose organic products and support sustainable farming practices.
Second Hand September
1st – 30th September. Second Hand September is an annual campaign by Oxfam encouraging us all to come together to choose a more planet-friendly way to shop. This September, take a stance against the environmental impact of fast fashion by shopping second hand, and dress for the world you want to see.
Journey to Net Zero
15 September 2025, online. Within the charity sector, it is important to be working towards a sustainable future with an impactful ESG strategy.
By attending this course, you will be better equipped to identify and prioritise the ESG issues most relevant to your charity and ensure your net zero plans align with your organisation’s overall strategy. In addition you will learn how to incorporate net zero considerations into your charity’ s reporting.
Climate and Carbon Literacy training for individuals and organisations
16th & 23rd September (Full day split over 2 half-days), online. Do you want to get your facts straight about the latest climate science? Develop an understanding of carbon footprints and build your knowledge of what we can all do, at home, in our communities and at work, to help restore the balance?
Futureproof Cumbria’s interactive Climate and Carbon Literacy training course provides a clear understanding of climate science, an awareness of carbon costs and the impacts of everyday activities.
It will leave you with the ability and motivation to reduce emissions on an individual, community and organisational basis and is a great way to meet like minded people.
Westogether Harvest Fest
Tuesday 30th September, Moor Row. Celebrate local growing and hear from local climate and nature groups; plus lunch made from produce harvested from the Goodlives allotment.
Climate Action Plans for Educational Settings
Wednesday 8th October/Tuesday 25th November, online: Our friends at Futureproof Cumbria are running webinars to help school leaders, teachers and governors develop climate action plans.
Discover ready-made tools, practical ideas, and the confidence to take meaningful steps – no matter where your school is on its sustainability journey. Tickets £25.
Book Wed 8 Oct session
Book Tues 25 Nov session
Climate Fresk
14th October, Kendal. Climate Fresk is a powerful, interactive workshop that transforms complex climate science into clear, easy-to-understand cause-and-effect relationships — helping participants explore how everything connects, why it matters and what action is needed.
This three-hour session uses a hands-on, visual approach to unpack the science behind climate change and spark meaningful conversations about solutions. It’s collaborative, engaging, and designed to empower people with the knowledge and confidence to take action.
Climate Fresk is a group workshop using a set of pictorial cards with facts from the latest IPCC report, and facilitated by our expert climate trainers, helping participants to explore the causes and consequences of climate change to create a unique flowchart fresco – or fresk!
Delivering energy advice in the community
Tuesday 4th November, online. This session will introduce why community-led energy advice and support is needed to tackle barriers to engagement and support underserved and fuel poor communities as well as able-to-pay households.
The session will cover examples of energy advice activities, considerations and challenges to be aware of and options for funding and support. Guest speakers from Y Dref Werdd and Sustainable Clevedon will tell us about their experiences of providing energy advice in their communities.
News and Information
What does the Industrial Strategy mean for green jobs?
With the Government launch of the Industrial Strategy in June, this strategy aims to drive growth nationally by focusing on eight industries over 10 years. Part of the focus is centred on meeting the skills needs of these industries, many of which will involve the creation of thousands of new, green jobs.
The Climate Change Committee put the total number of new green jobs by 2030 at somewhere between 135,000 and 725,000.
For part of NPC’s Everyone’s Environment programme, James Somerville has been looking at what we actually mean when we’re talking about green jobs, and what the evidence says about how best to support young people into them.
BEC commissioned to undertake market engagement on clean energy development
Energy Coast West Cumbria Ltd (BEC) has announced that it has been commissioned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and Cumberland Council to undertake targeted market engagement on siting a clean energy development on land adjacent to Sellafield.
It follows the Government announcement in June that the NDA and the council should work together to explore how the land could be used to boost the UK’s energy security, whilst also creating new jobs and economic growth for the region.
BEC has also been commissioned to create a masterplan for the land, now referred to as Pioneer Park, which will set out the vision for the wider development taking into account the requirements of existing major programmes at Sellafield.
Green investments in Cumberland’s future
Cumberland Council has invested more than £269,000 in grass-roots environmental projects since it formed in 2023.
The council’s eight Community Panels made 68 financial awards related to climate or nature in that time.
They ranged from installing energy-efficient heating in village halls to protecting animals, and providing community gardens.
Donate a prize for Futureproof Cumbria’s fundraiser
This November, we’re running an event to raise vital funds to support our work. We’re currently looking for prizes so whether you own a restaurant or a B&B, have business skills to share or own a Monet you no longer love(!), we’d love to hear from you.
