Volunteer for the Big Windermere Survey

An update to all supporters of the Big Windermere Survey

The Big Windermere Survey (BWS) was launched in response to local community concern and the academic need to address gaps in traditional monitoring regarding the ecological health and water quality of Windermere.

Over the last two and a half years, The Freshwater Biological Association (FBA) and Lancaster University have collaborated with hundreds of community scientists and a range of funders to deliver ten Big Windermere Surveys, focussing on both the spatial and seasonal variation in water quality. During this time, an incredible ~5,000 bottles of water have been collected by our volunteers. Resulting in 1,020 processed samples, each analysed for 20 water quality parameters, providing an extensive dataset for understanding the health of the Windermere catchment. The results collected across all ten individual BWS events to date can still be explored through interactive maps and summary reports.

The Big Windermere Survey Report

The Big Windermere Survey is a unique collaboration between members of the community and professional scientists at Lancaster University and the FBA, creating unprecedented evidence describing Windermere’s water quality, built on robust scientific data collected from over 100 locations around Windermere’s shoreline and the Leven catchment.

The Big Windermere Survey (BWS) report, covering the period June 2022 to November 2024, is a summary of the most spatially detailed, scientific water quality dataset for the lake, and demands action to address ‘Poor’ water quality results.

Download the Big Windermere Survey Report
  • A Big Windermere Survey flag next to lake Windermere on a bright day

    The Big Windermere Survey Report launched

    The Big Windermere Survey (BWS) report, covering the period June 2022 to November 2024, demands action to address ‘Poor’ water quality results.

    Read the BWS Report news article
  • The Big Windermere Survey Report Maps

    The Big Windermere Survey Report Maps

    Further details of bacterial spatial patterns with supporting interactive maps, and phosphorus spatial patterns with supporting interactive map.

    View the BWS interactive maps

  • “This report is the product of the incredible work our citizen scientists have carried out in collaboration with researchers at the Freshwater Biological Association and Lancaster University. Here we report upon the complex patterns in phosphorus and bacterial concentrations both spatially and seasonally within Windermere and shine a light on hotspot areas which show consistently elevated concentrations of these parameters. Restoration efforts should focus on these locations to drive the biggest and fastest reductions in phosphorus and bacterial concentrations. We urge the relevant authorities to invest in ongoing monitoring through the BWS to evidence the benefits of targeted action to drive down nutrient and bacterial inputs. We also urge the Government to invest in regulation and enforcement to ensure all wastewater infrastructure, both private and water company, is fit for purpose.”

    Dr Louise Lavictoire, Head of Science, FBA

  • “The Big Windermere Survey is a unique collaboration between professional scientists and members of various communities with an interest in the water quality of Windermere and its catchment. This collaboration has generated an unprecedented dataset which offers new insights into the spatial and temporal patterns of water quality in Windermere, built on exactly the same robust, scientific approaches used in water quality research. We look forward to working with partners within the catchment to ensure that evidence generated by the Big Windermere Survey informs action that leads to real improvement in the water quality of this iconic lake.”

    Dr Ben Surridge, Senior Lecturer at Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University

  • “We are incredibly grateful to the hundreds of volunteers who have given thousands of hours of their time to gather the scientific data in this report. The evidence is clear and must lead to decisive action to improve water quality. We must all work together to transform the future of Windermere and deliver a cleaner, healthier and safer waterbody for all life to thrive. Windermere is home to a number of rare and increasingly threatened freshwater species including Arctic charr. Without decisive action to improve water quality, this species and potentially many more will face a steady and devastating decline. We hope these findings will not only advance scientific understanding of Windermere’s water quality but also play a pivotal role in shaping future strategies to protect and enhance the health of the lake and its surrounding catchment.”

    Simon Johnson, Executive Director, FBA

Heartfelt thank you to all the dedicated volunteers who took part in the BWS!

Big Windermere Survey Locations

We have sampling sites all over the catchment, from Grasmere down to Newby Bridge, you can see them on the map below. We have different types of locations: from the shore (marked with a pin on the map), from a bridge (marked with a bridge icon) and offshore (marked with a person and boat icon on the map), if you have access to a boat/canoe/kayak/SUP.  

If you would like to take part in the next survey, please let us know a specific location or general area you would be interested in and we can let you know what locations are available. 

What’s involved?

Watch this video below with Dr Ben Surridge, for a short step-by-step guide on how to take a sample for the Big Windermere Survey. Sampling takes place on the Sunday between 10:00-12:00 and sample kits need to be dropped back at one of the four science hubs based around Windermere immediately afterwards. The sample time and drop off hub will depend on the assigned location.  

Sample kits can be collected from our FBA head office

Address: The Hedley Building, YMCA North Camp, Lakeside, Newby Bridge, LA12 8BD

“This project is an exciting opportunity to combine the interest and knowledge of communities around Windermere with academic research approaches. We’re really looking forward to helping deliver new understanding of the lake and its surrounding catchment through this collaboration.”

- Dr Ben Surridge, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University

Find out more about the Big Windermere Survey

  • About the Big Windermere Survey

    About the Big Windermere Survey

    The BWS was launched by the FBA and Lancaster University in 2022 to help assess the environmental health of Windermere.

    Find out more about the BWS
  • Citizen Science and the Big Windermere Survey

    Importance of Citizen Science

    Here at the FBA we value the power of Citizen Science to support the conservation of freshwater environments.

    Citizen Science and the BWS
  • BWS Results

    BWS Results

    Explore the results from our previous surveys and view all data on our interactive Cartographer map.

    Explore previous BWS results

Support the Big Windermere Survey

The Big Windermere Survey is a vital community based project which would not be possible without funding. Please consider donating today.

Thank you!

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