The Express: The battle to stop one of the UK's most beautiful lakes from turning bright green
Lake Windermere is a UNESCO World Heritage site but the flow of sewage from nearby rivers has become a grave concern.
In August 2022 Britain experienced an unprecedented heatwave and the public, relieved at the prospect of a summer without Covid-19 restrictions, flocked to national beauty spots in droves. Many people, unable to travel abroad because of the pandemic, had rediscovered amazing locations within the UK and were keen to enjoy them without worrying about social distancing.
One especially popular destination was the Lake District, with visitors seeking to enjoy one of the country’s most famous areas of natural beauty while the weather was, unlike it normally is in Cumbria, hot and dry.
Many headed to Lake Windermere, described as the area's crown jewel and, from William Wordsworth to Steve Coogan, a source of inspiration for generations.
But the sight of the lake that year was far from awe-inspiring, visitors found it covered in toxic green algae with the potential to kill animals and harm anyone wanting to cool off from the heat.
