Ambleside Action for a Future

11/06/2026

On 1st June the Waterhead E coli Testing (WET) Project found high numbers of faecal indicator bacteria - E. coli 649, IE 267, total coliforms 2420 (colony forming units per 100 ml) in Windermere lake water at Waterhead, Ambleside. The remark in response to this from our citizen science lead was, 'In New Zealand that would close the beach!'. We are following the US Environmental Protection Agency's system which takes the last 5 weeks into account, so under this system we could only issue a 'CAUTION'. Water conditions change rapidly, and the 1st June test followed an exceptionally busy half term and bank holiday which may have put pressure on the water quality. We are expecting the results from the test we took this Monday (8th June) to be returned soon and hope to see improved conditions. However, one of our volunteers reported two dead fish, a lot of goose droppings, and unpleasant plastic debris on the beach at Waterhead yesterday, so caution needs to be exercised if you are considering entering the water here. For weekly updates of our results at Waterhead check our webpage: aafaf.uk/wet

20/05/2026

14/05/2026

Put this in your diaries NOW to ensure you don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to bag yourself some free plants and advice from our lovely growing group.

13/05/2026

We are fully booked for tonight's event - if you have a ticket and can no longer attend, please contact us asap (email: [email protected]). If you would like to attend and do not have a ticket yet we have enabled a Waiting List on the event page - please sign up. Thank you.

LIMITED TICKETS REMAINING - book now to avoid missing this local showing of the National Emergency Briefing.

27/04/2026

Watch the new trailer for The People's Emergency Briefing

67 likes, 1 comment. "Trailer 2: the People's Emergency Briefing"

26/04/2026

LIMITED TICKETS REMAINING - book now to avoid missing this local showing of the National Emergency Briefing.

19/04/2026

'The Cost of Growth' at The Brewery Arts Centre, Weds 22nd April at 7pm. A film showing will be followed by a panel discussion with Professor Mike Berners-Lee, Dr Jacob Ainsworth, Kate Rawles plus others including Lena Hartog, one of the film directors.
The need for economic growth is rarely questioned in mainstream media and politics. Indeed, it's widely taken as given. Practically every political party prioritises it. But what are the social and environmental costs? Who bears these costs? And, given how astonishingly high the costs turn out to be, could we have prosperity WITHOUT growth? This hard-hitting, powerfully constructed film uses three European case studies to unpack some of these questions, raising amongst the most important debates of our fragile and volatile time.
https://www.breweryarts.co.uk/event/the-cost-of-growth-qa-panel-discussion/?
Kendal Mountain Festival Kendal Green Party Chris Loynes South Cumbria Rivers Trust South Lakes Action on Climate Change - Towards Transition Sustainable Staveley Ali Crumbie Ulverston Green Party Karen Mitchell Futureproof Cumbria Anti Racist Cumbria Global Justice Now Extinction Rebellion North Deano Maywhort Chris Batten Chris Rowley Ceri Hutton Eddington Kendal CIC

Book tickets for The Cost of Growth + Panel Discussion and discover more Cinema, Guest Talks at Brewery Arts - Kendal. Cumbria's unique venue for Cinema, the Arts and Creativity.

09/04/2026

Our ever popular annual event is back next month. Don't miss it!

10/02/2026

Drawing on her journey from growing up in Ambleside to working on buildings and cities in the UK and across Africa, Tilly will share stories and lessons about what sustainable cooling can look like. Her work spans practical design—such as thermal labyrinths and shading—through to the policies and systems that shape who can access cooling. She currently works for Sustainable Energy for All and focuses on making sustainable cooling easier to understand and put into practice in cities and buildings, especially in fast-growing, poor urban areas where heat risks are rising.

25/01/2026

The Life Cycle - Colombia to Cape Horn by bamboo bike - an illustrated talk by Kate Rawles - Tuesday 3 February - 7:30pm – 9pm - Ambleside Parish Centre LA22 9DH Free Event Everyone Welcome!
In order to raise awareness and inspire positive action on biodiversity loss, Kate Rawles (former university lecturer in environmental philosophy and outdoor education), cycled from Cartagena, Colombia, to Cape Horn following the spine of the Andes to explore the issue of biodiversity – what it is, what’s happening to it, why it matters and above all, what can and is being done to protect it. She'll tell us about some of the inspiring encounters she had along her journey;
a school whose entire curriculum was based on turtles; a project to save the smallest monkeys in the world; forest champions; anti-mining activists; an ancient, sustainable fishing fleet; and a member of the Peruvian senate.