We are delighted to unveil the six community projects that have received funding to help them look after the water quality of the lakes and rivers throughout the Lake District.
After joining forces with The Lake District Foundation to launch a £25,000 funding pot for projects that enhance and conserve water quality in the Lake District National Park, six community-led schemes from across the county have been selected to receive funding from The Lakes Distillery Water Fund.
We are delighted to partner with The Lakes Distillery to support six fantastic community-led projects in the Lake District. Each are different but are all designed to make a lasting improvements to water quality in our rivers and lakes.
Sarah Smith, Lake District Foundation Operations Manager
Isobel Stodddart is the chair at The Clean River Kent Campaign which has been awarded a grant from the fund:
We are delighted to receive funding to continue our volunteer monitoring work to help protect and preserve the ecology of the River Kent, as well as those that enjoy using it. This funding will enable us to get a much deeper understanding of the water quality along the length of our precious river.
Projects were selected on the basis that they focused on preserving and enhancing water quality in the Lake District. They had to demonstrate they would contribute to at least one of the following objectives: Pollution prevention and mitigation, habitat creation and protection, invasive species control, species conservation, or education.
It is fantastic that we have an opportunity to support these community projects and to help them deliver against what are very important environmental aims. We look forward to seeing the projects get underway and our team at the distillery is also very excited to get directly involved by volunteering and helping to deliver some of these schemes.
Nigel Mills, co-founder and CEO at The Lakes Distillery
The six projects that have received funding from The Lakes Distillery Water Fund include:
Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Improving water quality and habitat restoration at Eycott Hill Nature Reserve
The project aims to remove ditches and plant hedgerows and willow that will clean water, and create new freshwater pools and habitats. By reducing soil erosion, improving water quality, enhancing biodiversity, creating habitats and slowing water flow into Naddles Beck it also hopes to protect communities, streams, rivers and lakes by having a positive effect in terms of floodwater management further down the river.
Lake District Diving
Cleaning Up Litter hidden in our Lakes and Rivers
A scheme enabling divers to remove litter from the bed of lakes and work with the community and volunteers to remove litter from the shores of lakes and rivers across the National Park. The project will be focusing mainly on Windermere, but also on Rydal, Grasmere, Derwentwater, Ullswater, River Kent, and mountain tarns.
Spring to Sea
Tackling microplastic pollution in the Becks of Ullswater
Spring To Sea is a community interest group that intends to clean any plastic pollution from the becks running into Ullswater with the help of local volunteers. The project includes school engagement and volunteering opportunities and will be measured by the volume of waste collected.
Sustainability and Energy Network, Staveley
Clean River Kent Campaign
A community coalition from Staveley, Burneside and Kendal are aiming to improve and monitor water quality to achieve ‘Bathing Water’ designation for two River Kent sites. Not only will this protect water-based recreational users from sewage health hazards, but it will also bring a host of wildlife benefits.
Bassenthwaite for All
A two-year project focusing on the habitat management of Bassenthwaite Lake
Led by the Lake District National Park Authority, the grant contributes toward a wider project to improve the habitat management of Bass Lake and the recruitment of a Ranger on site. A two-year project focusing on Bassenthwaite Lake, habitat management will include willow coppicing, improving the lakeshore habitats, establishing a new volunteer group for litter picks, and working with new and existing audiences to raise awareness of biosecurity measures.
West Cumbria Rivers Trust
Invasive species and data collection for the River Derwent
Specifically focused on an area of the river near the distillery that runs to Bass Lake, this is a project to remove Himalayan Balsam from the river banks and prevent pollution, create new habitat areas, and also conduct salmon and trout fish surveys that will inform future conservation work.
We are excited to begin working with these fantastic organisations as we continue to help create a greener and more responsible future in our Lake District home. Find out more about what responsibility means to us.
