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Protecting the Natural Beauty
Bassenthwaite Lake © Andrew Lysser
The Heritage Lottery has funded a special programme called Bassenthwaite Reflections to protect the wonderful Bassenthwaite Lake for future generations to enjoy.
Bassenthwaite Lake is the only actual lake in the Lake District, the others are meres or waters. It is a very special lake, providing a home for a wide variety of wildlife and especially for the world famous Ospreys and the Ice Age Vendace fish.
But Bassenthwaite Lake is under threat from pollution and part of the Bassenthwaite Reflections Project is to educate people about how they can play a part in keeping the water clean and therefore safe for the wildlife that live there.
The water that ends up in Bassenthwaite doesn’t just come from the sky, the catchment area stretches 350 square kilometres as far as Borrowdale, Thirlmere and Troutbeck.
The lake is only 19 metres deep and that means the threats to it are particularly acute. A big problem is the increasing amount of sediment in the lake as it has doubled over the past 100 years. This makes it difficult for the rare Vendace fish which spawns in clean gravel.
Fell erosion, the altering of field drainage and waste from ancient mines all increases the amount of sediment that ends up in Bassenthwaite’s still waters.
Another problem is phosphate pollution. Each litre of water arriving in Bassenthwaite Lake has 25 microgrammes of phosphorus in it and this needs to be reduced to 15 microgrammes.
The phosphates come from the detergents used in washing machines and dishwashers which in turn stimulate a greater than normal growth of algae. The algae is not good for people who use the lake or for the wildlife that live in it.
You can help take care of the landscape while you are here by using phosphate free detergents. To find out more about Bassenthwaite Reflections and the Love Your Lakes campaign visit
www.loveyourlakes.org
DUBWATH SILVER MEADOWS
As part of the Bassenthwaite Reflections Project, this seven hectare wetland site, which once formed part of Bassenthwaite Lake, is now Dubwath Silver Meadows Nature Reserve.
There’s a series of paths and boardwalks – accessible for all – which take you around the site to see its special range of flora and fauna. The walk will fire the imagination as it takes you through living Willow Hides and you can stop off at replica Celtic and Norse style shelters.
Can you spot the Roe Deer, Badgers and Red Squirrels? 16
KESWICK.ORG
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