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.
We held an eight-week online consultation, aimed at key stakeholders, partners, users, and the general public. The online consultation closed on 24 November 2023. Since then we have been receiving additional feedback, having further conversations and writing up the amendments.
The majority of responses were broadly positive and welcomed this new management plan for Bassenthwaite Lake National Nature Reserve.
Common themes raised included: conflict of recreation use, the permit system, managing access whilst protecting the wildlife interest and water quality.
Discussed your feedback with Natural England and made amendments to the plan where it added value and was relevant.
60% of responders felt the plan was excellent or good; 27% average and 12% felt it was below average or poor.
In addition to the online survey we received 15 written responses from the Environment Agency, Friends of the Lake District, Natural England, Cumbria and the Lake District Joint Local Access Forum, Keswick Natural History Society, West Cumbria Canoe Club, Bassenthwaite Sailing Club, landowners and members of the public.
The documents below provide a summary of how we addressed your feedback (all personal information has been removed) and the final versions of the management plan and maps.
Summary of on-line questionnaire (pdf)
Summary of written and verbal feedback (pdf)
Bassenthwaite Lake NNR Management Plan 2024 - 29 (pdf)
Bassenthwaite Lake NNR Management Plan 2024 - 2019 - Maps (pdf)
For further information on the Management Plan and Bassenthwaite Lake, please contact us on this email BassenthwaiteLake@lakedistrict.gov.uk
