Overview
- The 50-acre boating lake in Poole Park is carpeted in a dense green algal bloom that accelerated during the summer heat and while work rebuilt the lake’s sluice channel, reporters documented.
- BCP Council says teams began targeted hand removal and mechanical lifting of algae, have been flushing the lagoon during suitable spring tides, and plan further clearance sessions.
- Lakeside businesses say the bloom has hit trade hard, with one owner reporting turnover down about 65 percent as customers avoid the park because of the smell and appearance.
- Recreation has been curtailed and wildlife affected: model boat users and pedalo renters cannot operate normally, and visitors have seen swans struggling in the slime.
- The Environment Agency warns cyanobacteria can produce toxins that harm people, pets and wildlife, and local voices are pressing for longer-term drainage and water-quality fixes beyond short-term clearance.