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.
Cumberland’s Director of Public Health, Customer and Community Wellbeing, Colin Cox, said: “Our Community Panels are playing a vital role in achieving the aims set out in our climate and nature strategy.
“We are seeing the benefits across the whole of Cumberland with sustainable projects developed by communities to address local priorities.”
Several investments have allowed community buildings to be upgraded to become greener – many now have more modern heating systems, energy-efficient lighting or solar panels and batteries to keep fuel bills down.
Community Panels have also funded communal gardens and orchards, equipment to use in them and activities to bring people in to them.
A co-operative of allotment users in Brampton received £4,000 to help buy a 100-year-old orchard next to their site. It means the co-operative now own and manage the whole site for the good of the community.
Several projects have had wildlife at their heart - Melbreak Communities were awarded £1,500 by the Lakes to Sea panel to host educational activities focused on the decline in hedgehog numbers. Pupils in the Loweswater and Buttermere area learned why this is significant and created nest boxes and feed stations.
Watchtree Nature Reserve was awarded £7,000 from the Fells and Solway panel towards replacing boardwalks in its education zone. This allows the community to experience outdoor education such as bushcraft and ‘forest school’ at the 200-acre site. It also improved access for wheelchair users and created areas for groups to sit together in nature.
Some projects have focused on making it easier for people to use more sustainable forms of transport. Thanks to a £1,073 investment from the Lakes to Sea panel, Keswick Town Council was able to buy a cycle rack for Hope Park, encouraging active travel and a reduction in car use.
Colin Cox added: "We know every project we fund makes a huge difference to the life of a particular community. When it also addresses the wider issues of sustainability and the environment, everyone wins. We are proud to support our communities towards environmental resilience in the face of a climate emergency."
Click here to read Cumberland Council’s climate and nature strategy: Climate change and natural environment | Cumberland Council