Windermere heating up with 1.5C rise in 80 years research shows

In recent years, Windermere’s normally clear water has been turning green due to algal blooming, particularly during the summer with heat being one of the main drivers.

Thackeray said “climate, human activity, land use and species populations have all changed”.

Windermere, he said, was seeing conditions that “favour algal blooms more often”, including higher water temperatures, longer dry spells and intense rainfall washing nutrients into lakes.

“At the same time, changes in water chemistry can release historic pollution from sediments, adding to the problem.

“As the climate warms algal blooms are becoming more frequent, but it’s not just an environmental issue — blooms can have real economic impacts.

“They can affect how safe and appealing lakes are for swimming, boating and tourism, which many local businesses rely on.”

Jonathan London

Jonathan London, director of Stoked Watersports in Fell Foot, said people “weren’t put off going into the water in warmer weather” but added it was a “complicated issue”.