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Work to begin on £2.6m Walney nature hub project

A £2.6 million project to build a nature hub on Walney is set to begin next month.

The Earnse Bay Outdoor Centre is to be built on land owned by Westmorland and Furness Council and aims to create an inclusive community space linking people to nature.

The 3.37-hectare site will see the creation of a space focused on outdoor activities, free to access trails and an opportunity to camp overnight in a purpose built area.

Funded by the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal, it will also see grassland and a redundant changing room building transformed into a community café, along with a camping support building serving the family and group camping area.

Architects from Align are proud to be working alongside the council and partners on the design of the buildings and outdoor community space.

Senior architect at Align, Svea Polster, said: “We are delighted that work is due to begin on this exciting project and are looking forward to see this come to fruition.

“Reaching this milestone has been a few years in the making, with a lot of work having been undertaken alongside the council, partners and the local community in the development of some of the design aspects.

“We hope that the finished facilities as part of the Walney project will be a significant asset for the local community and somewhere that can inspire the next generation.”

Work on the outdoor centre is due to begin in April and is expected to be concluded in early 2026.

A second phase of the development will also see an environmental education centre opened which will provide workshops, classrooms and meeting rooms while serving as a volunteer and operational hub for Natural England.

It is hoped that education programmes can be delivered from the beach school, working with communities to help more people to connect with the natural world.

Natural England is working with the council, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Art Gene on this part of the project, supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund – with architects from Align involved in the designs.

Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council and Deputy Chair of the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal Board, Cllr Jonathan Brook, said: “We have a wonderful opportunity here to create something special.

“Developing this outdoor and skills facility will not only help families to access learning, with beach schools and physical activity on the coastline, but will also provide great new opportunities for the whole of Barrow as a base for exploration of the wider Walney area and its unique natural environment.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the project take shape and become a valuable facility that the community can be proud of and will be an attraction for others to experience such an extraordinary place”.

For more information on the project, you can visit Westmorland and Furness Council’s website at https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/news/2025/work-start-soon-community-nature-hub

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