Cumbria Lake SSSI Condition Assessment 2025

This contract covers Five SSSI Lake Sites in Cumbria, assessing the 'Lake Habitat' feature:

1. Armboth Fells SSSI (2 Lakes: Blea Tarn & Dock Tarn)

2. Skiddaw Group SSSI (2 Lakes: Scales & Bowscale Tarn)

3. Helvellyn & Fairfield SSSI (2 Lakes included in contract: Red Tarn & Grisedale Tarn)

4. Scafell Pikes SSSI (2 Lakes: Styhead Tarn & Sprinkling Tarn)

5. Claife Tarns and Mires SSSI (3 Lakes: Three Dubs Tarn, Moss Eccles Tarn & Hodson's Tarn)

Aims

The purpose of the contract is listed below:

1. Undertake a whole site assessment of the Lake Habitat using the standardised methods outlined in Common Standards Monitoring Guidance & provide a recommended condition of the Lake Habitat at each of the five sites.

2. Provide a unit-by-unit description of the designated lake habitat, including an assessment of each unit/lake.

3. Record details of any 'pressures' observed which may impact on the condition of the lake habitat.

4. Suggest where current management is supporting favourable condition, where it is not and why might that be.

5. Undertake a climate change risk assessment of the lake feature at each site.

6. Comment, where relevant, on the targets in the monitoring specification

Further information about the sites can be located on Natural England's Designated Sites View: https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/

The results will allow Natural England to undertake a Commons Standards Monitoring assessment of the condition of the lake feature at each site and help with advising future management.