Villagers from Grizebeck and the surrounding area came together at a tree planting event to help create a lasting green legacy as part of an A595 improvement scheme.
The £23.3 million Department for Transport-funded scheme from Westmorland & Furness Council is delivering a new 0.8-mile single carriageway between Chapels and Grizebeck village.
Over 31,000 trees, shrubs, hedgerow and aquatic plants set to be introduced by completion, helping to significantly enhance the local landscape and biodiversity.
Around 60 people took part in the planting day, adding nearly 500 trees and shrubs to the scheme.
They were welcomed by the project team from Westmorland and Furness Council, who provided an overview of the wider programme using large-scale printed visuals showing the latest progress and planned stages of construction.
As part of the event, they were able to walk beneath the newly completed bridge and along the route of what will become the new A595 carriageway, which will pass behind Grizebeck Community Hall.
This offered a rare opportunity to experience the scheme from within the construction area and to see the measures taken to improve and protect the environment.
The event was supported on the ground by crews from Ashlea Landscaping Ltd and Story Contracting, who worked closely with residents throughout the day to demonstrate correct planting techniques and explain how these help give each tree the best possible chance of survival.
The team provided insight into the range of native species being planted across the scheme and how these have been selected to support local biodiversity and long-term environmental resilience.
Major excavation works on Pen Hill are now complete, with around 90,000m³ of material moved, and the new accommodation bridge is now open.
Work is also progressing on the farm underpass, while drainage systems are being installed and completed to manage surface water flows and help reduce flood risk.
It is scheduled to open in summer 2026.
