Charlie Yates

Pupils at St John Henry Newman Catholic School in Carlisle worked with Lowther Forestry Group to build a path through the school garden. The new route will improve year-round access, enhance outdoor learning and give students practical experience using tools and working as a team. Lowther Forestry Group praised the pupils for completing a high-quality project that will benefit future users of the garden.

Keswick photographers Simon Roberts and Fred Bell have had their Lake District images selected for conservation-focused 2027 calendars. Roberts won Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s annual photography competition with a photograph of a dipper feeding its chicks, earning the calendar cover, while Bell had two photographs chosen for the Friends of the Lake District calendar, with one also selected for a greetings card. Both photographers credited Keswick Photographic Society with improving their skills and supporting their competition success.

Penrith’s free Dinosaur Day is scheduled to return on Saturday, August 29, from 10am to 4pm. Organized by Penrith BID, the event will feature life-sized dinosaurs, ranger experiences and family entertainment centered on Great Dockray car park, with activities across the town centre. Great Dockray road will close from 6am, while emergency access remains available. Local businesses will participate in a Dinosaur Trail, and further details are expected before the event.

An unauthorised encampment involving six vehicles moved on from a Silloth Town Council car park before Cumberland Council needed to take further action. Council officers assessed the site and arranged a welfare check, while alleged criminal activity was referred to Cumbria Police.

Whitehaven town councillor Alan Pearson has warned that overgrown verges along the B5345, particularly between Whitehaven Cemetery and Mirehouse Hill, are creating serious visibility and road-safety risks. He says only a limited verge cut has been completed despite repeated reports and is urging residents to report hazards before someone is seriously injured or killed. Cumberland Council said its first annual safety cut had been completed, a second was scheduled, and additional tree, wall and fencing work had been carried out, with further inspections planned.

Taylor Gibbon, a registered sex offender from Maryport, admitted 14 breaches of notification requirements and a sexual harm prevention order after failing to disclose an iPhone 13 and usernames for applications including Roblox, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube and TikTok. Police found no evidence of contact with children or illegal image downloads. Carlisle Crown Court fined him £300, ordered up to five additional days of rehabilitation work, and extended his community order to June 2027.

An employment tribunal in Carlisle dismissed John Telfer’s claims that Sellafield Ltd discriminated against him because of his disability and failed to make reasonable adjustments. Employment Judge C J Cowx found both claims unfounded after a three-day hearing held from July 20 to 22. The written judgment was sent to the parties on July 29 and published on August 3, but did not disclose details of the complaint or evidence; oral reasons were given during the hearing.

The Gate café in Cumwhinton could temporarily close after Cumberland Council refused retrospective planning permission for its graphite-grey composite shopfront, saying the design harms the building, streetscene and area's character. Owners Erica and Adam Wellings acknowledge they failed to obtain permission but argue the modern frontage suits the village and fear alterations could be financially disastrous. They are considering an appeal or revised application. Customers have launched a petition with nearly 900 signatures, while ward councillor Gareth Ellis is working with the owners and planning officers to seek a solution. The café itself is not subject to enforcement concerns and remains a popular community hub employing five people.

Malcolm Bainbridge, 38, of Silloth, pleaded guilty at Carlisle Crown Court to 10 offences involving breaches of a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender notification requirements. The breaches included possessing prohibited electronic devices, unlawful online activity, and failing to notify police about an email address and bank card. Bainbridge had previously received a suspended 21-month sentence for attempting to arrange sexual contact with a 14-year-old boy while communicating with an undercover officer. He remains in custody pending sentencing on September 21, when the court will consider all options, including imprisonment.

Carlisle-based Susie Tate Project: About Being, which provides accessible dance and movement sessions for stroke survivors, people with Parkinson’s disease and carers, has been shortlisted for the Community Improvement Grant. The group combines tailored movement, live music, singing and practical support, helping participants improve confidence, mobility and social connection. Funding would support venue costs, accessibility, transport and long-term sustainability, addressing barriers such as expensive wheelchair-accessible taxis. The project is competing against three local sports organizations, with the winner to be selected through reader voting.

Charlie Yates reviews Multicultural Cumbria’s eclipse-viewing event at Talkin Tarn, which attracted more people than expected and created a warm, multilingual sense of community. The event faced practical problems, including shortages of food and eclipse glasses, limited viewing space, and severe traffic congestion. Despite these issues, the author found seeing the moon nearly obscure the sun at 7:01 p.m. exhilarating and meaningful, while wondering whether a more secluded location might offer a better view of a future eclipse.

The Carlisle venue formerly known as Ularoo, and previously Walkabout, is due to reopen on Botchergate as The Headquarters Carlisle on August 29 following a major refurbishment. Painting and other improvements remain ongoing, and the venue is recruiting for bartending, serving and mixology roles. Its launch will include an August Bank Holiday party and a competition for a VIP booth, while further refurbishment is expected after opening.

Wigton resident Mike Armstrong, a 65-year-old amputee and former Territorial Army member, is nearing the end of a four-year, one-million-step walking challenge to raise money for Blesma. He has completed more than 900,000 steps across 451 miles and 58 walks, including Hadrian’s Wall, the Cumbria Way and the Coast to Coast route. Armstrong plans to complete the final stages from Allonby to Bowness-on-Solway, where his first challenge began. He has raised more than £6,000 overall and is seeking £500 this year, while managing fatigue, soreness, phantom pain and prosthetic-related discomfort. His wife, Sandra, has supported the effort, and the couple plan to collect further donations at Wigton Party in the Park.

Charlotte Cooter, 34, admitted dangerous cycling and failing to stop for a uniformed officer after riding along the M6 near Carlisle and veering toward live traffic lanes. She told the court that she had been discharged from hospital after a prescription-drug overdose, could not secure a lift home, and chose the motorway because it was lit and familiar. A representative of autism charity Triple A said Cooter’s autism, ADHD, medication and stress contributed to the incident and argued that services had failed her. Magistrates concluded that no formal punishment was necessary and granted her an absolute discharge.

Carlisle United donated a signed football to a fundraiser supporting Leavers’ Day, a short coming-of-age film written and directed by Carlisle-born filmmaker Stuart Armstrong. The fundraiser raised nearly £4,000, while local businesses and individuals also provided funding, equipment, locations and expertise. Set in Cumbria in 2003, the film follows two teenagers searching for hidden contraband whisky after being expelled from a pub. Filming has finished, but the production team is seeking further business support for post-production and festival submissions, with ambitions for an international festival run and eventual television release. Armstrong is also planning a feature film to be shot in Cumbria in 2027.

Singer and tribute performer Mark A. Wright completed a three-night residency at Brampton’s Howard Arms Hotel, performing as Elvis, presenting Motown and soul songs, and closing with a Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music tribute. Wright praised the audience’s warmth and participation, noting that many attendees came to all three nights. He has performed twice-yearly residencies at the venue for three years and credited proprietors Andrew and Ruth Seggie with supporting his work. Although dates have not been finalized, Wright expects to return in spring the following year.

Scottish singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni will perform at Wigton’s John Peel Theatre on August 27, 2026, as part of the Folk at the John Peel programme. The concert will feature music from her folk and indie-pop repertoire, including songs from her album Dreamer Awake. The venue’s series will continue on September 11 with Cumbrian singer and guitarist Holly Clarke, whose set will combine traditional ballads and folk stories with contemporary influences. Tickets cost £19.40 for Sermanni’s performance and £17.25 for Clarke’s.

The Arts Society Appleby-in-Westmorland will open its autumn lecture season with Ashley Gray’s talk, “Visionaries of 20th-Century Textile Design: A Yorkshire Textile Renaissance,” at Appleby Public Hall on September 9. The lecture will examine how fashion, interiors and modern art influenced 20th-century textile design and helped bring modern art to wider audiences. The event is open to members and non-members, costs £9 at the door, and requires no booking.

Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service will hold a major charity prize draw during the Penrith Community Fire Station Open Day on August 31, 2026. Proceeds will benefit The Fire Fighters Charity, with prizes donated by regional businesses including glamping stays, attraction passes, outdoor activities, car servicing, vouchers and leisure experiences. Organizers expect the prize fund to match or exceed last year’s total of more than £3,500 across over 100 prizes. The event will include demonstrations, family activities and refreshments, alongside a quieter hour for people with special educational needs and their families.

Dalston Agricultural Show brought together more than 80 trade stands, livestock and horse competitions, industrial exhibits, BMX displays, terrier racing, tug of war, live music and family entertainment. The rural event attracted visitors from across Cumbria and the Scottish Borders, with attendee Paul Grindley photographing the activities.

Fiona Barnard, 59, of Carlisle, died at HMP Askham Grange on September 15, 2024 from acute small bowel ischaemia while serving a three-and-a-half-year sentence for conspiring to supply heroin and possessing other drugs with intent to supply. Independent clinical and Prisons and Probation Ombudsman investigations found that her healthcare was appropriate and that staff could not reasonably have diagnosed the rapidly developing condition. An inquest concluded that she died from natural causes, and no recommendations were made.

Louise Folkard, founder of Alston-based Stokoe House 1611, has won a two-star Great Taste Award for her pickled pears, made with small pears, vinegar, sugar, spices, celery and lemon. The artisan business produces preserves in a home kitchen and supplies local pubs, hotels and shops. Folkard previously won double gold at the Dalemain World Marmalade Awards, leading to her marmalade being stocked and reordered by Fortnum & Mason and supplied to Tebay Services. Her next ambition is to secure a listing at Newcastle’s Fenwick, a goal she hopes to achieve with her terminally ill mother.

Senga Grave said Ticketmaster and Red Events World moved her and her eight-year-old son, who has partial hearing loss, from front-row seats to obstructed back-row seats for The Music of The Lord of the Rings concert at Carlisle Cathedral. The companies gave conflicting explanations, citing production changes and a ticketing-system error. After challenging the change, Grave received a full refund and decided not to attend. Red Events World offered a further discount, while Ticketmaster said the reseating was a promoter decision and that the original booking was not made as an accessible-ticket purchase.

Carlisle councillor Brian Wernham has criticized newly laid tarmac on Etterby Street, arguing that it is unsightly, inconsistent with the area’s conservation status, and potentially hazardous in icy weather. He also warned that the smooth downhill surface could encourage speeding electric scooters and raised concerns about vehicles damaging newly planted trees. Cumberland Council said the surface was selected to provide a durable, accessible pedestrian route, acknowledged local concerns, and urged motorists and e-scooter users to act responsibly.

Stanwix Football Club has been shortlisted for the Community Improvement Grant, launched by The Cumberland News in partnership with New Balance. The club would use the funding to establish four new junior teams, with first-year costs estimated at about £1,000 per team. Secretary Ken Kirkpatrick explains that the club maintains pitches at Stanwix and Rickerby Park, supports more than 600 players across 27 teams, and works to make football accessible to local communities, including Bangladeshi residents and people with impaired hearing. Public voting will determine the winner from four finalists.

Four organized viewing events will take place across Cumbria for the partial solar eclipse on Wednesday, August 12. The eclipse is expected to begin shortly after 5:15 p.m., peak around 6:15 p.m., and end by about 7:20 p.m., with more than 90% coverage across most of the UK. Events at Alston Moor Golf Club Observatory, Basecamp North Lakes, Talkin Tarn, and St Bees Beach will offer activities including expert talks, telescopic viewing, eclipse glasses, family entertainment, refreshments, and a community reflection.

Beads and Bows, a needlework and embroidery shop on Angel Lane in Penrith, opened in May and has quickly attracted local customers and visitors from farther afield. Owner Rebecca Sharp, who trained at the Royal School of Needlework, offers specialist supplies, advice and classroom workshops, including embroidery, sea glass jewellery, candle making and needle felting. The shop plans to expand its class programme in the autumn after receiving strong community support.

Residents of Scotby, near Carlisle, are seeking to delay the auction of a 16-acre undeveloped plot at Rookery Park, listed at a guide price of £280,000, so they can secure funding for a community purchase. Campaigners describe the land as an important connection between the village and countryside and fear development would change Scotby’s character. A previous application to build 90 homes on the site was rejected twice. The auction is scheduled for September 1, with a 10% deposit due by September 4 and completion six weeks later.

Greystoke Castle will host Greystoke at War on August 22 and 23, offering a family-oriented living history weekend focused on Britain during World War II. The programme will include military vehicles, authentic camps, re-enactments, talks, demonstrations, wartime music and an evening 1940s dance. Derek Herbert will portray Winston Churchill and perform two of Churchill’s speeches, alongside Linda Herbert as Clementine Churchill. Re-enactors representing British, American, Ukrainian and other wartime forces will take part, with entertainment provided by performers including Colin Bourdiec, Rachel Mercer, the Kendal Big Band and Amy Anderson-Walmsley.

Dalston businesswoman Charly Owen, owner of The Calm Edit, is raising money to provide gentle skincare products to cancer patients at Eden Valley Hospice, inspired by her grandparents’ experiences with cancer and hospice care. The products, including moisturisers, lip balms, gentle soaps and tamanu cream, are intended to soothe dry or sensitive skin and offer comfort, rather than treat cancer. The campaign has raised £335 against a £300 target, with surplus funds expected to support cancer units at Cumberland Infirmary.

The all-female Shanty Girls sea shanty group, founded in 2024 and made up of 12 women from across the North West, is performing in Whitehaven Harbour alongside the visiting replica tall ship Santa Maria. The group sings traditional and lesser-known shanties, including songs about women’s work in mills and the hardships faced by women connected to the fishing and maritime industries. Members rehearse weekly near Cockermouth and wear shades of blue and green to symbolize the sea. Their performances form part of the Harbour Sessions.

Carlisle Ladies Walking Football Team won the Queen's Tournament Cup in Hull after defeating Forest Vets Pink in a penalty shootout. Established after the COVID-19 pandemic with funding from Sport England and Age UK North Cumbria, the team has since been maintained by volunteers and sponsored by Kingmoor Consulting. The club welcomes women of all ages and abilities and runs weekly sessions in Carlisle.

Residents of Aikbank Road in Whitehaven say overgrown brambles have obstructed steps and a public path, concealed a fire hydrant sign, created safety concerns and attracted rats. Cumberland Council carried out a brief cutback but described it as a one-off gesture, saying responsibility may lie with National Highways or Whitehaven Town Council because the land is unregistered. Residents remain dissatisfied with the limited work and unclear ownership, while the council has been asked for further comment.

Whitehaven's Haven Club will host an August 22 dinner featuring Wigan Warriors winger Liam Marshall and Australian teammates Jai Field, Bevan French and Kaide Ellis. Marshall will discuss his career during his testimonial year, while the other players are expected to mingle with guests and potentially participate in a question-and-answer panel. Tickets cost £30, include pie, peas and gravy, and 90 of 120 places had been sold at the time of publication.

North Lakes Hotel and Spa in Penrith has completed a £760,000 refurbishment of 22 suites and signature rooms, creating calm, Cumbrian-themed accommodation. The review praises the hotel’s location near the M6, its FYR open-fire restaurant, comfortable suites, breakfast and extensive spa facilities. Nearby attractions in Penrith and the Lake District add to its appeal, while family rooms, dog-friendly accommodation and the new Suite Life package broaden its market. Further upgrades to the hotel’s public spaces are planned.

Jennings Brewery and Theatre by the Lake have launched a limited-edition Calendar Girls beer to celebrate the musical’s run at the Keswick theatre from August 6 to September 5, 2026. The beer commemorates Jennings’ connection to the original 1999 fundraising calendar created by the Rylstone Women’s Institute, which raised more than £6 million and inspired the film and musical. The 4.1% ABV pale-gold beer is available in bottles and on draught at selected venues and online, while the musical by Tim Firth and Gary Barlow will support Blood Cancer UK.

Wigton Baths will mark its 125th anniversary with a public celebration featuring a cake-cutting, blue plaque unveiling, games, refreshments and special swimming sessions. The pool was closed by Cumbria County Council in 2013 but was saved when residents formed the Wigton Baths Trust, which took ownership in 2015. The event will also recreate a 1901 tradition involving Wigton Fire Station spraying an inflatable.

A history talk at The Rum Story museum in Whitehaven on August 7 will examine the Santa Maria, Christopher Columbus's 1492 voyage, and the wider legacies of exploration, cultural encounter, conquest, colonialism and empire. Historian and consultant Laura Hesketh will lead the event, which includes access to the museum exhibition and costs £30 per person.

Manchester-based drummer Aaron Youd plans to carry a full drum kit up Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon as part of a modified Three Peaks Challenge, performing at each summit. Beginning on August 28, the effort aims to raise awareness of men's mental health and funds for Mandem Meetup. Youd, who has lost six friends and colleagues to suicide, says the challenge is intended to encourage men to speak openly and seek support. Therme Manchester is supporting his preparation through its social value programme, while donations are being collected via GoFundMe.

Penrith A.F.C. has been named a finalist for the Community Improvement Grant launched by The Cumberland News in partnership with New Balance. The club, which has more than 700 players from under-five teams to walking football, raised over £50,000 for charities and provided its facilities free for fundraising activities. It would use the grant to replace worn tables and chairs in its function room, improving facilities for junior, women’s and senior teams. Club secretary Trevor Atkinson emphasized the club’s role in bringing the community together and encouraging young people to exercise. Voting also includes Creighton Rugby Club Youth Section, Stanwix Football Club and the Susie Tate Project, with the winner to be announced after voting closes on August 30.

Carlisle Cathedral is hosting a Little Stars storytelling session for toddlers and young children on Friday, July 31, featuring The Snail and the Whale. The £1 session will include storytelling, play, prayer, singing and a boat-themed craft, with babies, toddlers, preschoolers and siblings up to age seven welcome during the school holidays.

Watchtree Nature Reserve will mark its 25th anniversary with a talk by manager Ryan Dobson at Stanwix Community Centre. The event will explore the site's origins as a burial location for more than 500,000 animals during the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak, its transformation into a community nature reserve, and its current activities, including inclusive cycling, running and children's clubs. Dobson will also discuss the charity's newly purchased land and a proposed 99-year lease from Defra.

Fix the Firth, a volunteer beach-cleaning group based in Cumbria, is preparing to mark nine years of activity on August 7. Since its first event at Bowness-on-Solway, the group has completed 587 cleans and collected 7,515 bags of rubbish along with larger items such as tyres and traffic cones. Volunteers meet on selected Tuesdays and every Saturday, with equipment supplied and participation open to everyone. Organiser John Gorrill said volunteers range from teenagers completing the Duke of Edinburgh's Award to people over 80, while his 12-year-old Labrador, Roly, has attended every clean as the group's mascot.

Stony Holme Golf Club in Carlisle will host a 36-hole charity golf challenge on October 3 to raise money for Dementia UK. Entry costs £5 for members and £30 for non-members, with all proceeds donated to the charity. The event forms part of a national sponsorship campaign in which 652 golfers have raised £33,930 so far, helping fund specialist dementia support, including Admiral Nurse services.

Always Another Way, a mental health charity based in Frizington, will lead a five-day fundraising walk along the Cumbria Way from Ulverston to Carlisle from August 17 to 21. The charity provides individualized support and group activities for young people aged 11 and over, aiming to improve mental wellbeing and reduce pressure on statutory services in West Cumbria. A core team of five to seven walkers, support crew members and business participants will take part, with proceeds providing unrestricted funding for community projects. Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster has named the charity its 2026 Charity of the Year. Organizers highlighted Cumbria’s high suicide rates and the importance of early intervention, awareness and community-based support.

Local artist Deborah Wainwright of Meadow Stream Arts is hosting a needle-felting workshop at Kings Meaburn Village Hall near Appleby-in-Westmorland on September 3. Participants will learn to create wool landscapes inspired by Buttermere and the wider Cumbrian countryside, including techniques for blending fibres, shading and adding detail. The full-day class costs £40 and includes materials, an instruction booklet and a needle-felting kit to take home.

Tesco is offering free children’s meals throughout the summer at 330 cafés, including Carlisle’s Warwick Road store, when adults make any full‑price purchase using a Clubcard. The supermarket is also reinstating its Free Fruit for Kids scheme and continuing its school fruit and vegetable initiatives, contributing to a goal of boosting children’s produce intake. Additional savings are available through Clubcard reward partners, and café meal prices for children will also be reduced.

A community‑organised charity run, walk and cycle event will cover 18 miles from Silloth Airfield to Watchtree Nature Reserve to support the reserve’s Watchtower Project, which involves developing a newly acquired Grade II–listed WWII watch office and surrounding land. Watchtree representatives highlight ongoing community consultations and emphasize that the project will remain focused on nature and conservation. Organised by volunteers and local running enthusiasts, the event includes relay and fancy‑dress options, with organisers expressing gratitude for the community’s continued support.

Eden Rivers Trust is coordinating community efforts to remove invasive Himalayan balsam from the Eden catchment, emphasizing accurate identification and complete removal of the plant to prevent further spread. Events are scheduled across local areas as part of the organization’s ongoing conservation work, with staff highlighting the simplicity and community value of participating in balsam control.

Cumberland Council apologised after mistakenly removing pavement signs from several Bank Street businesses in Carlisle, prompting complaints from shopkeepers who reported sharp drops in sales. The council acknowledged the error, clarified that it was not an attempt to restrict promotion, and assured traders that signs could remain in place. Affected business owners criticised the lack of timely communication and highlighted financial impacts from the disruption.