Ambleside Action for a Future

24/10/2026

Yesterday, several AAFAF WET Project members were invited to the Only Rainwater launch. The feasibility study has been completed and the next stage is to put the project out to tender. It was a positive presentation which promises to remove the majority of human pollution from the catchment of Windermere via an ambitious program of connecting current package treatment plants and septic tanks to the mains, separating some of the currently mixed sewer and rainwater drains, adding in SUDS and reedbeds and sending the sewage from all the treatment works around Windermere down a huge pipe to a newly built state of the art treatment works outside of the national park. The new treatment works will be of a far higher spec than currently required by government and has already been trialled in Europe. The timeline is for it to take 7 years from the awarding of the tender. The cost to bill payers will be 35p a month if Government agrees to it being shared across all water companies because of it being a national park, or £3.17 a month if only UU customers pay. Cost / benefit analysis to the local businesses is that £1.90 of extra money will be spent by visitors to the region for every £1 spent on this project to clean up the lake. Photo = Louise Beardmore (United Utilities Chief Exec) thanks Edward Twiddy, (the neutral convener for the partnership) for all his hard work. Louise Beardmore also thanked the residents of Ambleside for being patient and helpful as UU builds our new holding tanks to prevent spills into the lake. We need those tanks for the next decade until the pipeline is built, and they will also enable the future sewage to be sent down the pipeline without backing up. https://www.unitedutilities.com/corporate/newsroom/latest-news/coalition-publishes-landmark-blueprint-for-only-rainwater-into-windermere/
https://www.savewindermere.com/blog/only-rainwater-in-windermere
Don't forget to come and hear what the WET Project found out about the cleanliness of the lake at Waterhead this year through weekly lab testing - Wed 4th Nov 7.30pm Ambleside Parish Centre and we will have some copies of the Only Rainwater feasibility report there. aafaf.uk/wet

22/10/2026

An extra large pumpkin from AAFAF's Community Garden at Rydal! We've had a fantastic harvest this year and a lot of fun. Anyone can come and join us to grow organic fruit and veg - you don't have to be an AAFAF member. Find out more here: https://aafaf.uk/community-garden-at-rydal/

18/10/2026

12/09/2026

Date for your diary! Our October 14th meeting will be all about the Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy and how we can get involved...

20/08/2026

Back from our summer break our next meeting focuses on the challenges we are currently facing. Everyone warmly welcomed.

14/07/2026

The lab test for faecal indicator bacteria at Waterhead on Windermere has returned low numbers so the water quality is now a 'PASS' for E. coli and Intestinal Enterococci. However caution still needs to be exercised when entering the water due to the blue-green algal bloom that was spotted there on the 9th July. Toxins from blue-green algae can remain in the water for several weeks after the bloom can no longer be seen by the naked eye. The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) which confirmed the blue-green algal bloom at Waterhead says, 'Blue-green algae can produce potent toxins that can result in a range of health effects in people and animals. Effects on people coming into contact with toxic scums include skin rashes, eye irritations, vomiting and diarrhoea, fever and pains in muscles and joints. Blue-green algae have caused the deaths of dogs, horses, cattle, birds and fish across the UK. If you are a pet owner you can find further information from the Blue Cross.
If you, or your pet, have become unwell after contact with water that you think may be contaminated with blue-green algae, we’d strongly recommend that you seek immediate medical or veterinary advice.' ( https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/blue-green-algae-and-its-dangers-to-dogs )
Blue-green algae has been confirmed in a number of places on Windermere, including in the North Basin, and the Environment Agency has told us that warning notices will be appearing around Windermere shortly.
If you spot any blue-green algae, it is important to inform the authorities by taking a photo and reporting it via the 'Bloomin' Algae' app. https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/bloomin-algae

11/07/2026

Although the numbers of E. coli and Intestinal Enteroccocus in the lake at Waterhead, Ambleside, were very low last week, there has been a recent sighting of blue-green algae at Waterhead (confirmed by the CEH). Blue-green algae can be toxic to humans and potentially lethal to dogs so please be observant before you allow your children or your pets to enter the water. See this post from Coniston Mountain Rescue 30/6/26 about the sad death of a dog after exposure to blue-green algae on Coniston - www.facebook.com/share/p/14kKUE1iRG6/
For weekly information about the quality of the water at Waterhead go to aafaf.uk/wet .
You can find the location of the latest confirmed blue-green algal blooms in Cumbria at: engageenvironmentagency.uk.engagementhq.com/blue-green-algae-in-cumbria-and-lancashire/widgets/118571/faqs
If you see suspected blue-green algae, please take a photograph and report it via the Bloomin' Algae app - www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/bloomin-algae

26/06/2026

This:

In 2021, Stuart Capstick, deputy director at the Centre for Climate...

25/06/2026

25/06/2026

Everyone welcome to visit the Community Garden for our first year celebration!