Residents are being invited to help grow a greener future by taking part in a community tree planting day as part of the A595 Grizebeck improvement scheme.
On Wednesday 11 March 2026 between 10am and 2pm, local people can plant trees and be part of the legacy of the project.
The Council’s £23.3 million Department for Transport-funded scheme is creating a new 0.8-mile single carriageway between Chapels and Grizebeck village to improve safety, journey times and resilience along one of Cumbria’s key transport routes.
The scheme also includes significant planting commitments including over 700 trees, 9,000 shrubs, 8,900 hedgerow plants, and 12,800 aquatic plants, enhancing both land and water habitats.
The event will take place at two locations near to the Community Hall at Grizebeck. It is open to all residents who are invited to plant trees to represent the number of people in their household or more if they wish.
It supports the Council’s ambition to plant 250,000 trees, the equivalent of ‘One Tree per Resident’ of Westmorland and Furness over a five-year period, helping to boost biodiversity and create lasting environmental benefits across Westmorland and Furness.
Those taking part will get a rare behind-the-scenes look at the site, with the chance to view areas normally closed to the public, including sections that will become the new road.
There will be no heavy lifting. Trees will already be placed beside the holes and volunteers will simply need to put them in place and cover them with soil.
The tree planting site is a short one-to-two-minute walk from the Community Hall where parking is available. As there are limited number of parking spaces, visitors are asked to park considerately.
People are encouraged to dress according to the weather conditions, wearing full-length trousers and sleeves to protect arms and legs. It is also advised to wear sturdy boots or appropriate footwear as the planting site is on uneven ground.
Attendees should also bring their own shovel or trowel as they will not be provided and wear gardening gloves.
Councillor Peter Thornton, Cabinet Member for Highways and ICT, said:
“Reaching the landscaping stage of the A595 scheme is an exciting moment and it’s fantastic that residents can now play a direct part in that work.
“The A595 improvements will bring real benefits for safety and connectivity, and the new planting will help nature to thrive alongside the new road. This event offers a wonderful opportunity for people to step inside the site, get involved and help shape a greener future for Westmorland and Furness.
“In years to come, when people are driving along the A595, they’ll hopefully see the trees they planted now towering above the road and know they played a personal part in improving the route and environment of Grizebeck.”
Councillor Giles Archibald, Cabinet Member for Climate, Biodiversity and Environmental Services, said:
“The A595 road improvement scheme is playing an important part in our ambition to plant 250,000 trees over five years - the equivalent of ‘One Tree per Resident’.
“With over 31,000 trees, shrubs and hedges planted by the end of the scheme as part of our replanting commitment, we are taking an important step closer to that goal.
“This community event is an important step in our wider efforts to support communities in increasing tree coverage, which plays a vital role in mitigating the impacts of climate change. Trees not only sequester carbon and contribute towards our net zero goals, but they also enhance biodiversity, improve air and water quality, and create healthier, greener spaces for both people and wildlife to thrive.
“I’d encourage anyone who can, to come along, see the progress that’s been made and be part of the next chapter of this important project.”
Westmorland and Furness Council’s major improvement scheme continues on track for a Summer 2026 completion.
Major excavation on Pen Hill has been completed and the accommodation bridge is now open. Large culverts have also been installed within the permitted in-water working windows.
Mechanical sweeping and hand-picking of loose material on Pen Hill has finished, marking the end of works to the rock cutting. Around 90,000m³ of material has been excavated and moved on the project to date.
Work is now ongoing to form an underpass beneath the new road to maintain connectivity between farmland either side of the highway. This is the last major structure on the scheme to be completed.
To manage drainage from the highway, four attenuation basins have been formed and are ready for lining and planting. These will slow the flow of water to nearby watercourses and help to mitigate flood risk.
Works continue at Chapels at the southern end of the scheme and at Grizebeck in the north to construct the tie-in junctions. Temporary highways are in place to minimise the need for traffic lights and reduce disruption while protecting the workforce.
From 23 February to 1 June, Buckhorn Lane will be closed for the remainder of the scheme with the junction on the south side closed. Residents and businesses will still have access via the north from the A5092.
Andy Clode, Construction Director for Story Contracting, said:
“Reaching these latest milestones shows real progress across the scheme, and with works advancing on the final underpass, momentum on site continues to build towards the completion of the road later in the year.
“I’d like to thank the council, the Story team, and our supply chain for their hard work and collaboration in keeping the project on track, as well as the local community for their patience while we complete these important works.”
The community planting day is a chance for local people to play a hands-on role in the project and help create a lasting green legacy alongside the new A595.
To attend, please let the A595 Grizebeck Project team know your full name, address and a contact phone number by emailing a595grizebeck@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk. Any queries ahead of the event can be sent to this address.
