The Mayor of Kendal has opened a new nature trail as part of the Great Big Green Week 2026.
Councillor Helen Ladhams, who became Kendal’s new mayor in May and is also a Liberal Democrat representative on Westmorland and Furness Council, opened the Kirkbie Green Community Group’s new nature trail on June 13.
The community group is a collection of neighbours on the Kirkbie Green estate that cares for the green open spaces that lie to the north and south of the residential area.
The mayor opened the nature trail to coincide with the Great Big Green Week, which is a nationwide celebration of action against climate change, advocating for the protection of nature.
To celebrate the opening of the trail, which was part of the community’s wider project, INFORM, the Kirkbie Green Community Group Held a garden party.
INFORM, which also installed signs explaining the rewilding work undertaken on the green spaces and helped educate people about the local flora and fauna, amongst other pro-environmental actions, received grant funding from the town council and Westmorland and Furness Council.
Mayor Ladhams said: “Action on climate change never ends, and we hope to inspire people to appreciate that it is real and that we can all have an impact by small actions.
“I commend Kirkbie Green Community Group for their inspiring efforts and [for] really making a difference in this corner of Kendal.”
Meanwhile, Bob Gibbs, of the Kirkbie Green Community Group, said: “Attendees gave great feedback on the signs that have been installed, and the Kirkbie Green Community Group hopes they will be appreciated by the neighbours and numerous passers-by in the area.”
At the garden party celebration, there was a picnic lunch, guided nature walks, and local artists led special sketching sessions.
When Mayor Ladhams began her term in May, she outlined that ‘Community, Culture and Climate’ would be her theme for her year in office.
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