Barrow Town Council is delighted to highlight the success of Tidy Town Fest: The Big Barrow Clean Up, which brought together communities across Barrow-in-Furness for an unprecedented week of coordinated environmental action.
Delivered by the Travel Actively Development Team as part of the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Social Prescribing Pilot, the festival united residents, schools, businesses and organisations around a shared priority: improving the cleanliness, appearance and pride of the town.
A Community Effort
The response from the community exceeded all expectations, with:
- 494 participants taking part
- 405 bags of litter collected
- 27 organised litter picks held across the town
- 43 groups, schools and organisations involved
- 29 collaborative partnerships formed
The Waste Services Team, alongside Barrow BID, played a vital role in coordinating and collecting litter from over 20 locations, ensuring the festival was delivered safely and efficiently on a large scale.
Lasting Impact
The festival has made a significant and lasting contribution to Barrow, helping to:
- Strengthen civic pride
- Improve key walking and cycling routes
- Encourage ongoing community involvement in environmental initiatives
It has also helped lay the foundations for future projects, including a planned Walking & Cycling Festival later in the year, and supports a long-term vision for Barrow as a cleaner, greener and more connected town.
Funding and Support
The project was funded by the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Social Prescribing Pilot, with additional funding provided by Active Cumbria and Barrow Town Council.
Barrow Town Council’s funding played a crucial role in enabling the success of the festival, supporting:
- The purchase of high-quality equipment
- Refreshments at key events
- Equipment bundles for 13 community groups and numerous families
Looking Ahead
The impact of this investment is already being seen, with many community groups planning to continue litter picking on a regular basis—whether weekly, fortnightly or monthly. This ongoing activity has been made possible by ensuring groups now have the tools and resources needed to sustain their efforts.
Barrow Town Council would like to thank everyone who took part and contributed to making Tidy Town Fest such a success. The collective effort has demonstrated the strength of community spirit within Barrow and sets a positive example for the future.
