05/06/2026
In other news....
I chair the council's South Lakeland Locality Board Climate Action and Increasing Biodiversity sub-committee and last year we provided funding for the following as well as many other local projects -
Stricklandgate House Trust received £10,000 toward Phase 1 of its Lottery project. The support helped secure a National Lottery Heritage Fund Development Phase, including governance, staffing, surveys, RIBA Stage 4 designs, planning/listed building consent, consultation, pilot activities, a £4.6m delivery phase application and £747k match funding.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust – Planting for Pollinators Year 3 received £30,000. Outputs included 10 sites surveyed, 5 enhanced, 1.52ha of wildflower-rich habitat, 5 community planting days, over 30 volunteers, 5,780 plugs, 50 shrubs, 1,000 bulbs, 3 schools supported, workshops and talks. Overall statistics include 6 sites restored, 7,780 plug plants, 1,000 bulbs, 320 planting volunteers, and 171 talk/workshop attendees.
SENS – Clean River Kent / sustainability activity received £5,000. Outputs included household education leaflets, poster, website, room hire, insurance, newsletter tools, Repair Cafés, events and project coordination. Outcomes include over 200 residents engaged, septic tank session attendance of around 45, river clean-up with 35 participants, village litter pick with 12, and wider awareness through Natural Kendal and Kendal Museum.
Grange Methodist Church received £5,000 toward secondary double glazing for six large leaded windows. Reported benefits include a warmer, more comfortable meeting space, improved energy efficiency, expected fuel bill reductions, and increasing bookings.
Arnside WI Village Hall received £5,000 for new doors and thermal blinds. The work replaced two external doors and installed blinds on six windows, reducing draughts and heat loss, improving comfort, lowering expected energy costs and improving appearance.
REAL ACTION IN YOUR COMMUNITIES, ALL YEAR ROUND, RATHER THAN DIVISIVE POLICTICS
