There is a 20-year action plan for the lake

This week the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) said it was pledging �1.9m to Bassenthwaite Lake as part of a project to protect landscapes around Britain.

The Bassenthwaite Lake Restoration Programme was set up to clear polluted waters, lift threats to wildlife and help protect the surrounding area.

It will be running a series of events urging people to play an active part.

The programme can now submit a further application with the help of �38,400 development funding to secure the full grant.

'Vitally important'

Programme manager John Pinder said: "We have an exciting, groundbreaking three-year programme in place which depends on capturing the public's imagination and support.

"But we want to hear from the communities themselves and encourage them to work with us

"We are indebted to the HLF as the money will see some vitally important schemes come to fruition."

There is a 20-year action plan in place to return the lake to the state it was in before World War II.

Sixty years ago, the lake had clean water but since the war, high levels of fertiliser have started to seep into the lake.

The resulting algae and high levels of sediment falling into the lake have taken their toll on the water quality and wildlife.

Among the projects planned are bringing families together to help create a wetland nature reserve and growing oak trees to help prevent erosion on fell sides.