Exploring the Future of Lakes Together
Collaborative Efforts at PLURALAKES Workshop Aim to Shape a Sustainable Future for Windermere and European Lakes
Love Windermere was pleased to take part in the first PLURALAKES stakeholder workshop, held earlier this year at the Windermere Jetty Museum. The workshop welcomed people delivering projects in Windermere, working in science, living, visiting and campaigning to explore how different perspectives can help shape a healthier future for our lakes.
PLURALAKES is a new Water4All project*, led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology in the UK, working across Northern Europe to improve the health of lakes by combining science with people’s lived experiences. The Lake District is one of three case study sites, alongside lakes in Finland and the Netherlands, meaning lessons learned here can influence the management of lakes here and across Europe.
At the May workshop, participants were guided by the Nature Futures Framework, which considers the different ways people value and connect with nature — whether through culture and identity, nature’s own resilience, or the benefits it brings to society. Each group created shared visions for the future of our lakes, ranging from restoring ecosystems and improving resilience to reconnecting people with nature.
A key outcome was the recognition of tensions we face in balancing nature’s needs with public access and wider social or economic benefits. Understanding these trade-offs is crucial for making informed, fair, and lasting choices.
Love Windermere’s Partnership Manager attended the session, ensuring Windermere has a voice in this wider conversation. We will continue to support the project and support the PLURALAKES team to bring in more voices — especially from businesses, landowners, farmers and the local community — so that future decisions reflect the full range of values people hold.
- Read the full workshop report: Visions and plausible pathways for positive lake futures in the English Lake District, UK: report on the introductory PLURALAKES workshop in the Lake District National Park, UK. 20th May 2025. – NERC Open Research Archive
- If you live or work in the Lake District and want to find out how you can get involved in the project, email Dr Heather Moorhouse.
Together, projects like this help us connect science, policy and community voices — and that’s vital if we are to secure a healthier future for Windermere and lakes across the National Park.
*Water4All is a seven year partnership funding programme between the EU and 33 countries including the UK. The UK funder is the UK Research Innovation (UKRI) through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. voices — and that’s vital if we are to secure a healthier future for Windermere and lakes across the National Park.
*Water4All is a seven year partnership funding programme between the EU and 33 countries including the UK. The UK funder is the UK Research Innovation (UKRI) through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. voices — and that’s vital if we are to secure a healthier future for Windermere and lakes across the National Park.