Volunteer for the Big Windermere Survey
Launched jointly by the Freshwater Biological Association (FBA) and Lancaster University, the Big Windermere Survey began in June 2022 with the help of a team of local volunteer citizen scientists to assess the environmental health of Windermere.
Citizen scientists are trained to collect water samples from approximately 100 different locations on Windermere and in the rivers and lakes that flow into it. The samples are analysed for nutrient and bacterial concentrations at independent laboratories, producing the largest, one-day snapshot of conditions in Windermere.
Our autumn Big Windermere Survey was on Sunday 17th November 2024. Thank you to all our volunteers who took part!
We have yet to set the date for our next survey. We would love for you to be involved. If you would like to take part in the next survey, please sign up below.
Anyone can take part and volunteers need no previous experience.
Big Windermere Survey Locations
We have sampling sites all over the catchment, from Grasmere down to Newby Bridge, you can see them on the map below. We have different types of locations: from the shore (marked with a pin on the map), from a bridge (marked with a bridge icon) and offshore (marked with a person and boat icon on the map), if you have access to a boat/canoe/kayak/SUP.
If you would like to take part in the next survey, please let us know a specific location or general area you would be interested in and we can let you know what locations are available.
What’s involved?
Watch this video below with Dr Ben Surridge, for a short step-by-step guide on how to take a sample for the Big Windermere Survey. Sampling takes place on the Sunday between 10:00-12:00 and sample kits need to be dropped back at one of the four science hubs based around Windermere immediately afterwards. The sample time and drop off hub will depend on the assigned location.
Sample kits can be collected from our FBA head office
Address: The Hedley Building, YMCA North Camp, Lakeside, Newby Bridge, LA12 8BD
“This project is an exciting opportunity to combine the interest and knowledge of communities around Windermere with academic research approaches. We’re really looking forward to helping deliver new understanding of the lake and its surrounding catchment through this collaboration.”
- Dr Ben Surridge, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University
Find out more about the Big Windermere Survey
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About the Big Windermere Survey
The BWS was launched by the FBA and Lancaster University in 2022 to help assess the environmental health of Windermere.
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Importance of Citizen Science
Here at the FBA we value the power of Citizen Science to support the conservation of freshwater environments.
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BWS Results
Explore the results from our previous surveys and view all data on our interactive Cartographer map.
Support the Big Windermere Survey
The Big Windermere Survey is a vital community based project which would not be possible without funding. Please consider donating today.