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Windermere: Zoologist calls to protect water from sewage

Environmental campaigners claim Windermere could be ecologically dead within a few years.

They are concerned about the amount of raw sewage running into the water due to unregulated septic tanks.

The bacteria can cause algal blooms to form in the water that can be harmful to wildlife.

Zoologist Matt Staniek is warning that there is no quick fix to the problem.

14 October 2021

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SpaceX's Super Heavy booster fires out of its exhaust at the bottom of the rocket itself while it lands into the rocket launcher holder that it fired out of, during SpaceX Starship's fifth flight test, in Boca Chica, Texas, U.S., October 13, 2024

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The curlew's return to Lower Lough Erne

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A swan and her cygnets swim across a body of water. There is no suggestion of blue green algae in the water. It is a stock image

What is the effect of blue-green algae on wildlife?

Northern Ireland

A gold and green leopard frog peers out of some leaves

Endangered leopard frogs released into the wild

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What is it like to cuddle a cow?

Lough Neagh's blue-green algae has returned

Lough Neagh blue-green algae back as Earl meets minister

Northern Ireland

A bronze diplodocus statue at the Natural History Museum

Walking through time at the Natural History Museum

Ed Davery surfing

Sir Ed Davey makes a splash surfing in Cornwall

Hurricane Beryl as seen from space

Hurricane Beryl seen from space in Caribbean

picture of hay whirlwind

'Hay devil' spotted in farmer's field

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'They don't understand what farmers are doing'

Northern Ireland

Humpback whale's tail

Why scientists are using a crossbow to study whales

Science & Environment

Wendy Hurrell meets Martin Hojka from the Hyde Park super nursery

Behind the scenes at Hyde Park 'super nursery'

Sea lion on row boat

Malnourished sea lion jumps into rowing boat

Science & Environment

The pile of rusting cars and scrap metal in the quarry

Watch how volunteers clean 'cavern of lost souls'

A toad on the road near Haltwhistle, shortly before being saved

'Toad girl' recruits volunteers for road patrols

GWR Train at West Ealing

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Frank, boy in soldier's outfit. He wears a bearskin hat and red uniform with medals on.

'We're remembering the soldiers - my heroes'

A six-year-old Cumbrian "soldier" who has taken TikTok by storm prepares for Remembrance Day.

Screengrab showing plumes of black smoke coming out of a building at nighttime

Thick smoke as fire breaks out at UK nuclear sub shipyard

Two people were hospitalised but have since been released, the company who runs the shipyard says.

Men's champion Tommy Mattinson says the event brings the community together

Gurners grimace in championship face-off

Gurners sign up on the night then its hideous faces galore at the World Gurning Championships.

A man with red hair, wearing a hi-vis vest over the top of a Carlisle United football shirt.

Club rep encourages autistic fans to attend games

"Having autism, you're recognised as having differences, but being a part of a club, you're the same."

One of the many gravity-powered vehicles for 2024's soapbox derby

Thousands roll into town for annual soapbox derby

Teams in Barrow make a kart relying on only their strength and gravity to get to the finish line.

Davy Keenan walking towards his boat Little Gem

'My home's a working museum piece, it's a gem'

Davy Keenan has lived on water for more than 50 years and now spends his time aboard 'Little Gem'.

The five members of The Silver Bars band lined up outside a shop

'To go and play at the festival is fantastic'

A Barrow-based band is put forward by BBC Introducing to play the festival's Calling Out stage.

Harrison Holmes, the radio DJ with cerebral palsy, during his school assembly

Radio DJ with cerebral palsy inspires school pupils

Since realising a dream of appearing on Radio 2, Harrison Holmes wants to inspire a new generation.

Fell runners honouring Joss Naylor ahead of his funeral

'We're here to celebrate the life of Joss Naylor'

Hundreds of fell runners honour record-breaking veteran athlete Joss Naylor at his funeral.

BBC general election branding on a purple background

Truckers on the A66 share their views on the election

The BBC stops off at a truck stop on the A66 near Penrith to hear what truckers and visitors think.

A traveller wrangling a horse at the Appleby horse fair

Crowds celebrate at 248th Appleby Horse Fair

There are about 10,000 Gypsies and travellers in Westmorland for the annual event.

Dave and Lili Myers

'Dave was exactly like the one you saw on TV'

Barrow is expected to come to a standstill when thousands of bikers descend to honour Dave Myers.

Sir Chris Bonington at his Cumbria home

Sir Chris Bonington's life on the mountains

The famous climber, who turns 90 this year, admits Everest was "just another mountain".

Donald Campbell's Bluebird craft in Coniston

Crowds gather to watch Campbell's Bluebird return home

Donald Campbell's Bluebird is back in the Lake District 57 years after its pilot was killed in a crash.

Children from three schools in Windermere are learning how to rap

School children tackle e-bike safety with rap music

Cumbrian rap duo JD and Swerve are helping to record teenagers’ and children’s work.

Ron Odgen, who worked on Spitfire planes 78 years ago

Veteran sees Spitfire for first time in decades

Nearly 80 years ago a young lad arrived at a remote Navy base and fell in love with a certain plane.

People at a dating disco

Valentine's dating disco brings people together

A dating disco is held in Cumbria for people with learning disabilities to come together for Valentine's Day.

80-year-old Nora Newton, indoor bowls tournament finalist

'I play to win, that's what the whole point is'

80-year-old Nora has reached the final of a national indoor bowls tournament.

Children being taught sign language at Dane Ghyll Community Primary School

Children being taught sign language in primary school

The school in Barrow is one of the first in the country to introduce sign language to its curriculum.

Leo Mason

'Climbing the mountains helps my tics a lot'

A nine-year-old boy with Tourette's is aiming to conquer all 214 Wainwrights in the Lake District.