A community tree planting event linked to the A595 Grizebeck improvement scheme has been postponed and will now take place on Monday 13 April 2026.
Westmorland and Furness 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.
Local communities were invited to be a part of the tree planting event on Wednesday 11 March 2026 to contribute to the future environment and landscape at Grizebeck
Following a review of site conditions, sustained heavy rainfall throughout February has left the ground saturated and unsuitable for planting, the event has been rescheduled until next month.
The Council’s lead contractor, Story Contracting, has assessed the planting site and confirmed that, due to the location being on low-lying ground and currently waterlogged following recent periods of heavy rain planting trees at this time could pose a risk to their survival as ground conditions are still not considered suitable for tree planting.
Will Storey, Head of Infrastructure at Story Contracting, said:
“Our expert tree providers have experienced very high rainfall at their nursery sites and currently do not want to lift the trees and transport them to Grizebeck. Due to the wet weather, they are concerned that they could not be lifted from the ground without risking damage to their root balls, which is essential to ensure they survive and thrive once planted.
“In addition, the areas where the tree planting was planned have also been affected by the very wet weather over the last few weeks, which would make it potentially unsafe for members of the public to be in those locations.
“The community tree planting day has therefore been rearranged for Monday 13 April 2026, with the same arrangements remaining in place for volunteers wishing to take part.
“Some landscaping works including tree planting are expected to start from Monday next week in the drier areas of the site and will be carried out by a specialist contractor due to the close proximity of ongoing works in the surrounding area”.
Westmorland and Furness Council is delighted that Story Contracting are able to support the rescheduled event. It will offer residents a chance to be a part of this important scheme that will shape the future of road infrastructure in the area.
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.
The event also 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.
Cllr Peter Thornton, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and ICT, said:
“While we know many people were looking forward to taking part in the community tree planting event, postponing it is the right decision if there is any risk to the health and survival of the trees we plan to plant.
“These trees form an important part of our environmental commitments linked to the A595 Grizebeck improvement scheme, and we want to make sure that every tree planted has the best possible chance of establishing successfully and thriving for many years to come once the road scheme is complete.
“We look forward to welcoming volunteers to the site on Monday 13 April from 10am to 2pm when hopefully the ground conditions will have improved so the community can come together to help create a lasting environmental legacy for the area.”
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.
People are encouraged to dress according to the weather conditions at the time, 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.
To attend the event on Monday 13 April 2026, 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.