The Lake District National Park Authority owns Bassenthwaite Lake and owns or leases the majority of the lakeshore habitats surrounding it. As well as being within the Lake District National Park, Bassenthwaite has special protection as a National Nature Reserve and a Special Scientific Interest - it is also part of the River Derwent and Bassenthwaite Lake Special Area of Conservation.
It's a really special lake for wildlife, home to ospreys that swoop down and fish from the water during the summer and many other plants, insects, birds and small mammals all year round. It's a wonderful place for some quiet enjoyment.
Sailing, rowing, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, fishing and swimming are all allowed on the lake. We issue permits for most of these activities, so that we have a good understanding of how and when people are visiting this area, and money raised goes back into helping us protect and conserve the lake, to benefit its wildlife.
As the landowner and manager, it is our job to maintain an up-to-date management plan for the National Nature Reserve. We have produced a draft management plan for review which follows Natural England's template for the management of all National Nature Reserves in England.
Our aim, set out in this plan, is to manage priority wildlife and habitats identified by Natural England and protected by both UK and European law. Also, we manage other key issues identified by us and via feedback from adjacent landowners, lake users, including permit holders, and other stakeholders.
In this plan we explain how and where we can make a difference over the next five years with the resources available to us is the focus. Below you can download the plan and questionnaire.
Bassenthwaite Lake National Nature Reserve Management Plan (technical document)
Questionnaire https://forms.office.com/e/K68uPz1kFP
Bassenthwaite Lake National Nature Reserve Management Plan Executive Summary (non-technical summary)
The review will remain open until Friday 24 November 2023. There are hard copies of the Plan at Keswick Information Centre and Keswick Library.
For further information on the Management Plan and Bassenthwaite Lake, please contact us on this email BassenthwaiteLake@lakedistrict.gov.uk
