About us
Love Windermere is a partnership made up of nine organisations drawn from a wide range of sectors.
We are united by a desire to ensure the Lake and surrounding environment live up to its UNESCO World Heritage site status.
We all have a part to play in making the partnership robust and able to make a difference. In addition to our core partners, we are working with other key stakeholders to form the widest possible body of knowledge and experience. The partnership will use our collective expertise to identify and tackle gaps in our knowledge about the impact on Windermere’s water quality.
By taking a scientific and evidence-based approach, we will better understand the complex and interdependent pressures facing Windermere and prioritise effective solutions to improve the condition of the lake.
How the Love Windermere Partnership is funded
The Love Windermere Partnership brings together a diverse range of organisations from the public, private, and third sectors, all committed to improving and protecting Windermere’s water quality. We are not a campaign group but a Partnership delivering solutions.
The partnership is funded through multiple sources, including partner contributions and external grants. With each organisation supporting the partnership in various ways. For instance, Partners may provide staff time and expertise, generally on an ‘in-kind’ basis, to deliver the Love Windermere Action Plan and share news of our progress. Additionally, partners may offer venues for meetings and community events as ‘in-kind’ contributions. Specific projects also receive grant funding, such as the Windermere Farm Engagement Project funded through the LDNPA Farming in Protected Landscapes Fund, and STEP delivered by South Cumbria Rivers Trust and Lake District Foundation, funded by Central Government. We have been fortunate to secure a small grant from Westmorland and Furness Council to support delivery of our Action Plan in 2026 and 2027. Our Partner, Lake District Foundation hold this grant for us together with money we raise through fundraising. Decisions about allocation of these funds are made by the Love Windermere Partnership Board.
Working in partnership allows us to pool our resources effectively, as demonstrated by the Hello Lamp Post AI engagement posters installed at Rayrigg and Millerground and now Fell Foot. The Environment Agency funded this project, and by collaborating with the National Trust as the landowner, we were able to secure locations for the installations. The Rangers from the National Trust also provided invaluable assistance in erecting the posts.
Whilst we work with a number of organisations, there are only three fixed roles within the Love Windermere Partnership: the Independent Chair, which is an unpaid position; the Partnership Manager, funded entirely by the Environment Agency; and Communications & Engagement Officer, funded by Lake District National Park Authority and United Utilities. No single organisation funds or steers the Love Windermere Partnership and all decisions are based on independent scientific evidence, ensuring that every voice is heard and given equal weight.
Our priority is to provide balanced and accurate science, data, and evidence to achieve long-term improvements for Windermere. This effort benefits the environment, local communities, businesses, and visitors alike.
If you have any questions about our initiatives, we encourage you to explore our projects, read our reports, and contact us directly.
Citizen scientists are trained to collect water samples from approximately 100 locations on Windermere and the rivers and lakes that flow into it. The samples are analysed for nutrient and bacterial concentrations at independent laboratories, producing the largest, one-day snapshot of conditions in Windermere.
Windermere information
Read the latest data about A Changing Windermere
Find out more about Algal blooms
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