Does anyone know if Windermere has blue-green algae this year?

[ErrolTheDragon]

Some plans gone awry because Coniston has apparently got bad blue-green algae, I'm trying to find out if Windermere is also affected but so far can only find reports from last year.

Thanks!

Why not contact the tourist information local to Coniston?

...ok, I just worked out I should ring the Environment Agency and unfortunately last time it was tested on June 28th only Fell Foot was clear and chances are it may have developed since then.

So if anyone else wanted to know, there's the answer.

Does that mean no swimming? Is this common in the lakes of the lake district or only in hot weather?

I ask as an outdoor swimming enthusiast.

Well, I think it's one of those things that you decide on - you wouldn't want to swallow it for sure, and maybe ok if you can shower off after - I'm not an expert. It is a warm weather thing, and seems to becoming increasingly an issue.

I swim when there's algae, just don't put my face in and shower after.

I’ve been swimming in Windermere and coniston recently, the wild swimming shop in Ambleside advised me to just avoid swimming directly through any blooms. A lot of the blooms aren’t tested and without testing you don’t know if it’s the toxic sort or not, but the majority aren’t toxic. Wouldn’t risk it with a dog mind, since they’re so much more sensitive to it