Council’s environmental progress blooming
13 Mar 2025
Northumberland County Council is well on-track to half its own carbon footprint this year – as a range of environmental projects make rapid progress to make the county greener and cleaner.
A report to the Council’s Cabinet shows the Council is on-track to increase the number of Green Flag parks to 14 - one year ahead of the target date of 2026/27 - with 13 parks now accredited and the application for Tyne Riverside Country Park being progressed in 2025/26.
The flytipping action plan is on track to exceed the target of a 20% reduction in flytipping incidents by the end of 2025/26 one year ahead of schedule - with current performance being a reduction of 23% in the number of flytipping incidents over the last financial year.
The report states over 90 roadside verges that have been identified as having significant ecological value are now being cut later in the season to support nature recovery and biodiversity.
And from land to water, and the latest Bathing Water Quality results show 12 out of 13 designated bathing waters in Northumberland all being rated as ‘Excellent’ with Spittal at Berwick being rated as ‘Good’. The Council is also progressing an application for Blue Flag status for Blyth Beach in 2025/26 - the first of its kind in Northumberland.
Meanwhile, the Council is reinforcing its commitment to the environment following the approval of a new project that aims to boost nature recovery and biodiversity.
The ‘Supporting Nature in our Green Spaces’ project, part of the County Council’s Environmental Policy, has been given the green light and involves a detailed review of the Council’s Grounds Maintenance Service.
The initiative involves reviewing Council-owned land management and grounds maintenance practices such as grass cutting, verge and shrub bed maintenance, to identify opportunities for nature recovery and biodiversity as well as enhancing attractive and safe public green spaces.
Reaching out to residents through a ‘Community Conversation’ will be an essential part of the project and will help the Council to gauge public opinion and identify key areas for maintaining grass, hedges and shrub beds more frequently.
This feedback will then be used to form an operating model which is efficient, provides good value for money and defines a clear set of service standards.
Cllr Glen Sanderson, Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Change at Northumberland County Council said: “Our county has a national and international reputation as a beautiful place to live and visit, with its fantastic coastline and spectacular countryside.
“But everyone needs to play their part in keeping our county green and clean and this report gives a snapshot of the huge range of work we’re doing across Northumberland – from tackling fly tipping and investing millions cleaning spoiled coastline to ensuring our parks and green spaces are among the best in the country.
“And subject to Cabinet approval, our new initiative to boost nature recovery and biodiversity will help us identify areas for environmental improvements.
“By listening to our residents and reviewing our grounds maintenance practices, we can ensure that we’re maintaining beautiful, safe spaces for our communities and promoting nature recovery across the county.
“This is another big step in our ambition to make Northumberland a net zero county by 2040.”
Already, the Council has made great strides since the introduction of the Environmental Policy with 149 community volunteers and 15 litter-picking groups now established across the county.
Additionally, a new Climate Change Action Plan has been launched, alongside a new standalone net zero website. £50,000 in grants are being issued for sustainable community projects and a COP29 event to engage local students in climate discussions.
And the Council is making good progress towards achieving its recycling target of 45% by 2026/27, with the recycling rate in 2023/24 being just over 35% and further recycling services being implemented from April 2026.
Approval has been given for provision of food waste recycling services to over 80,000 household starting in April 2026 and work is on-going to confirm the arrangements for kerbside recycling provision for glass, plastic pots/tubs/trays, metal foils, cartons and plastic films also in 2026.
More details on the Council’s environmental work is available via the report at https://nland.uk/W1gJ