Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project Community Catchment Management at Loweswater, Cumbria This booklet is dedicated to the memory of Danny Leck

This publication was produced by Loweswater Care Project participants. It aims to document the LCP’s innovative ways of working, and to highlight the achievements and insights gained from understanding and acting collectively in Loweswater to address complex environmental issues.

Main: Loweswater. Photo: Getmapping.com.

Inset left: Danny Leck (middle) discussing new septic tanks with farmers, 2007.

Covers: Photo:John Macfarlane Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project 1 Right: Installing the monitoring buoy on Loweswater. Photo: Stephen Maberly.

Foreword

Over the last 50 years or so, farming practices and indeed the way of life in rural areas have altered dramatically. So too has the environment in which these changes have played out.

A number of years have passed since local people began to consider how to improve the water quality of Loweswater, beginning with eleven farmers working together, led by the late Danny Leck back in 2002.

This booklet explains what has been attempted by local people working together with scientists and agencies since then and in the form of the Loweswater Care Project. It gives a voice to these diverse participants to show how they have collaborated and presents some of the findings that have come to the fore and the things they have achieved. It also considers what practical and viable ways forward there may be to better understand and act on complex environmental issues.

Together, we carried out various surveys and monitoring programmes, recognising certain issues, some of which have been addressed. But it must be understood that bettering the quality of the lake will not be a quick fix.

Kath Leck

Right: The physical ‘catchment’ of Loweswater, a small lake in the English Lake District, is defined as the area within which water flows towards the lake. The catchment is delineated here by the red line. Photo: Lisa Norton.

2 Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project 3 Introducing Loweswater What one sees if one looks closely remain competitive. Like so many David Davies, at this lovely place is that - like other rural areas of Britain, the many rural areas in our highly local landscape is increasingly less Thackthwaite, modernised society - it harbours a a landscape of production, but Loweswater mass of seeming contradictions and rather one that is characterised by paradoxes. The lake, the land, the consumption – a landscape to be farms, the mountains, the rivers, consumed by occasional visitors, Life in Loweswater, for those the stone-walled fields, the sheep holidaymakers, and those who live fortunate enough to be able to live and the wild animals signify the here. there, is good. Loweswater is rurality of the catchment – a undoubtedly one of the most simple-looking rurality that is highly Loweswater is a small community beautiful valleys in England, with prized in the beautiful Lake District where some big issues are being stunning mountains, fast-running National Park. Yet in many respects played out. The Loweswater Care becks, rugged fells and the unique Loweswater is no less complex a Project has offered some insights sense of place that is associated place than a district of a large not only into the science and with “the Lakes”. Around 200 people metropolitan centre. As we shall ecology of Loweswater, but also reside in the parish (2001 Census), see later on in this publication, into some important cultural and with around a quarter of that issues of housing, work, population social issues of the day. There are number permanently resident in the and the environment constantly no easy solutions but there are physical catchment of Loweswater. raise challenges in this rural setting interesting and illuminating puzzles Despite its small size and relatively just as they do in our cities. and paradoxes around our remote locality, a wealth of local concerns. The LCP has shone some activities are enjoyed by For example, as for many rural light on these and allowed us to Loweswater residents – often in parishes today, very few residents think critically and positively about combination with nearby villages – are able to earn a living within the beautiful but paradoxical place from gardening clubs to rambling Loweswater. There has been some that is Loweswater. societies to local history development in tourism in the fraternities. parish (a hotel, local B&Bs, as well as a camping barn are thriving) Loweswater, like most rural providing some jobs, but there are settlements, has a complex few other services to be found here. social make-up, the people living Life in the valley relies heavily on here come from very varied the infrastructures of local towns backgrounds. Not so long that are within reach. Local property ago, the valley was a site of major prices reflect market desirability mining installations, and it was host and have the unfortunate effect of to textile, brewing, tanning, and pricing young local people with fulling industries and a diverse families out of the area. Forms of agriculture. Its people came from farming have changed quite both the near locality and from far radically in the last 60 years in the away across the UK and beyond. catchment and even beef and sheep Now, the social make-up of the farming, which have historically catchment is less determined by been important in the area, look working opportunities but the valley increasingly precarious as small still supports a diverse community. family-run businesses struggle to

4 Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project Right: Blue-green algae on Loweswater on the 18th February 2008. Photo: Judith Tsouvalis.

Bottom: Loweswater. Photo: Lisa Norton.

Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project 5 Loweswater’s blue- green algae - a matter of concern… Claire Waterton, Centre for the Study of Environmental Change (CSEC), Department of Sociology, Lancaster University

In the last ten years or so, algal Above: Blue-green blooms such as the ones seen on algae on Loweswater on the 18th February this page have become an 2008. increasingly frequent sight in Loweswater. These blooms are caused by blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) that under calm conditions can float to the surface of the lake. When blooming, they tend to form an oily scum that can cover much of the lake or, more commonly, can be pushed by the wind into one area of the lake. Blue-green algae are an indicator and a cause of poor water quality. More importantly, these microscopic organisms which are, in fact, bacteria, can potentially be toxic to animals and humans.

6 Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project Below: The problem of blue-green algae in the lake began to spark off a series of connections and activities.

Blue green algae became a matter People’s reactions to of local concern in Loweswater in what appeared as a the early 1990s when it became clear that they: purely ‘physical’ problem

• Marred the attraction of People reacted to what initially Loweswater for locals and appeared to be a primarily physical visitors, particularly when in problem in many different ways. bloom; • Could pose a danger to livestock • Scientists suggested that the and other animals (e.g. dogs) due chemical element, Phosphorus - to their potential toxicity; either from farm fertilisers, farm • Posed a potential danger to manures, farm slurry tanks or people swimming in the lake domestic septic tanks - was during and after a bloom; getting into the lake and ‘feeding’ • Scientists and locals worked • Signalled declining water quality; the blue-green algae. together to gain small grants to • Brought to the attention of the • Many local people as well as put in new septic tanks around Environment Agency the issue of agency representatives domestic and business properties pollution from farms and suspected farmers were to blame at the north end of the lake. households; for the appearance of the algae. • The owners of the lake, the • Alerted the Environment Agency • Loweswater farmers, in turn, National Trust, felt they had no to the likely failure of Loweswater rallied together as a group (the way of addressing this problem to meet new lake water quality Loweswater Improvement except to post warning signs standards under the European Project) under the leadership of around the lake. Water Framework Directive; and local farmer Danny Leck to • Began to sour relations between address issues they felt they the National Trust (owners of the could control. Farm soils were lake) and farmers (land-users sampled, the application of around the lake). fertiliser was adjusted according to soil sample results, new systems for the separation of rainwater and slurry/septic tanks were put in place on several farms.

Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project 7 The Loweswater Care Project

The Loweswater Care Project (or LCP for short) was formed in 2008 to build on all the activities that were coming into being around the problem of blue-green algae in Loweswater.

The rationale behind the LCP was to create a meeting-ground where local people, agencies, scientists and anyone who cared about Loweswater could come together on equal terms and pool their diverse knowledges and understandings of blue-green algae in order to identify possible causes and solutions. The forum was run following a number of simple principles that Lancaster University academics adopted from the work of a well-known philosopher of science, Bruno Latour. Prominent among these was the principle that all knowledges and expertise are valuable and open to debate, and that it is important to take disregarded views seriously. Furthermore: Top: LCP meeting in the Parish Hall on the • happenings in nature should not 15 July, 2009: ‘Getting be taken as self-evident but to Know Your constantly questioned; Institutions’. • a valid and routine part of making Middle left: knowledge together is the Loweswater Parish acknowledgement of Hall. uncertainties about facts; • an open-mindedness towards Middle right: LCP connections and relations, and a meeting on the 18th June, 2008: ‘Knowing / rethinking of these, should be Remembering constantly encouraged; Loweswater – An • doubt, fierce debate, and Evening of Stories / questioning are to be extended to Evidence’. all facts, theories and Bottom : Objects representations in the LCP. brought in for discussion by LCP participants on the18th June, 2008.

8 Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project Below: The first echo- sounding survey of the fish populations of Loweswater in 2007. Part of the monitoring system is visible on the port side of the boat.

Left: An echogram recorded during one of the echo-sounding surveys. The bottom of the lake can be seen as the thick line running across the bottom of this ‘cross-section’ of Loweswater, with numerous small targets above it forming a large blue cloud in the water column.

One of our main achievements has been working together, doing science together, listening to and understanding local experiences, and connecting up very different narratives about Loweswater.

Through this, we have come to a Between mid 2007 and December much fuller understanding of this 2010, the LCP met fifteen times, complex environment – of the lake, roughly every two months. Early on, of local relations, of relationships participants formulated a mission between farm livelihoods, land use statement: and water quality, of agency and institutional responsibilities, of the boundaries of scientific knowledge, “ The Loweswater Care Project (LCP) is a grassroots and of the opportunities and organisation made up of local residents, businesses, constraints that we face when thinking about how to deal with (or farmers, ecologists, sociologists, agronomists, live with) blue-green algae in environmental agencies and other interested parties. Loweswater. We work collectively to identify and address What have these principles meant for the way science is done in the catchment-level problems in an inclusive and open Loweswater Care Project? manner. The LCP’s vision is to gain a better understanding of the diverse challenges faced by the Loweswater catchment and together to seek economically, socially and ecologically viable ways forward and put them into practice.”

Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project 9 Science in the public Therefore, in trying to understand domain complex environmental systems, making links between ecology and Stephen Maberly, economy, for example, can be Centre for Ecology and particularly difficult. Overall, I sometimes feel that I am being Hydrology (CEH), pushed to the limit! Nevertheless, Lancaster I am keen to use my specialist knowledge to improve lake condition and it is clear to me that this can Natural scientists are trained to only be achieved in a social context think and work with phenomena that includes different kinds of that are tangible and quantifiable, experts and stakeholders, and most but this project has required me to importantly, the community living shift out of my comfort zone into and working in the catchment. Above: Creating a flow another area by working with social However, a natural scientist can of data between the monitoring buoy on scientists and local residents. Why offer a detailed understanding of the lake and CEH at is this hard? First, because I am not the processes leading to an Lancaster University trained as a social scientist and do environmental problem, such as was achieved via a not have the necessary background poor water quality, allowing local farmer’s internet knowledge. Secondly, the natural possible solutions to be explored connection. and social sciences have different with the community and agencies. vocabularies that need translating This will lead, hopefully, to the before communication can be identification of sustainable solutions effective. Thirdly, there is a that are effective but also practical reduction in predictability when and balance the needs of the local social elements are included. ecology with the local economy.

15 10 5 10 16 10 5 16 15 16 15

N Left: The 12 transects (arrows showing direction of travel across the lake) followed during the echo-sounding surveys of 1.0 0.5 0 Loweswater, together with the underlying km depth contours (in metres).

10 Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project Below: semi-natural vegetation managed by farmers to act as a buffer zone at the north end of Loweswater, 2009. Photo: Lisa Norton.

The importance of social scientific understandings Judith Tsouvalis, Centre for the Study of Environmental Change (CSEC), Department of Sociology, Lancaster University

Thirty-eight people contributed a wealth of information about Loweswater in semi-structured Local knowledge pointed among interviews carried out at the other things to the need to look beginning of the Loweswater Care more carefully at: Project. Their memories of land-use • policy changes affecting changes, changes in agricultural watercourse management in practice, and the ways in which catchments like Loweswater; relations within the community and • the geomorphology of the the composition of the community catchment and its significance for of Loweswater have changed over changes in water levels and the years painted a rich picture of water quality; this fascinating catchment. There • cultural and demographic were many keen observations of changes affecting the care and climate and environmental change maintenance of natural and in Loweswater, and many valuable human made landscape features theories were put forward as to why in the catchment, such as the quality of the water in the lake drainage channels, lake side might have deteriorated. All these vegetation, dry-stone walls, and contributed substantially to our other features. understandings of Loweswater, and we used these local observations, memories and theories to inform the research priorities and the meeting agendas of the Loweswater Care Project. Middle left: Iredale place in the 1970s. Photo: Harry Spencer.

Bottom left: Vegetation clearing carried out at the outlet of the lake by farmers in the catchment together with the National Trust. Photo: Ken Bell.

Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project 11 Acting out multiple roles Ken Bell, Loweswater resident, farmer, and part-time researcher

The concept of playing the dual roles of farmer and research team member was a new and very rewarding one for me as I was keen to use scientific approaches to manage my land in an environmentally friendly way, but without affecting output and with without impacting on productivity. the benefit of reducing input costs. This concern is shared by other farmers in Loweswater. Key in Farmers are notorious for being achieving this was to act on the individualistic and following ecological and land use data practices that suit their “own way” produced for the catchment by Lisa of thinking, but following the Norton (Centre for Ecology and approach above allowed us to move Hydrology) and John Rockliffe collectively towards managing the (Senior Farming Advisor, Mitchells land in a way that would benefit Auction Company Ltd., Cocker - water and lake quality but still mouth). Soil samples were taken on enable us to retain our individuality. each farm and analysed for residual levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and One other major benefit that potassium and pH levels. Each emerged from this project is the Above: Swaledales at farmer was given a full report on improved dialogue and relationship Hudson Place. “Best Practice” needed to reduce between farmers and agencies such Photo: Ken Bell. potential overload of these nutrients as the EA, defra and the NT.

The relationship between land managers and the land is fundamental to the nature of the British landscape. In Loweswater, as in the Lake District as a whole, farming shapes both the upland fells and the in-bye land in the valleys. As a farmland ecologist, Working together to understand links I am interested in understanding between farming, land management and water how farming impacts on both the quantity and quality of habitats, Lisa Norton, recognising that in areas like Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), Lancaster Loweswater farms contain a variety

12 Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project Loweswater’s social and The steady erosion of the local economic make-up community is the second major problem, particularly the loss of Alec Bond, local resident young people. Part of this problem is referred to above, but is exacerbated by the lack of To understand fully all of the issues affordable housing, due to the in the catchment, university relentless pressure of outside researchers mounted a study of the demand for retirement and second socio-economic structure of the homes. Local people often have to community through interviews with leave the National Park to seek local residents. This highlighted affordable homes outside. Hence once more the long standing conservation of the rural cultural problems of hill farming and the heritage is under threat. Above: National Park erosion of truly local communities. Loweswater is a scattered managers discuss the community in a designated ‘Quiet latest policies with Conservation of a particular Area’ of the Park subject to Loweswater Care landscape and associated cultural restrictive planning control over Project participants. heritage requires conservation of new buildings. the socio-economic order, which debate these sensitive issues and created that landscape, not just in A solution to these problems is connect them to the agencies with Loweswater but throughout the required. The LCP has provided a responsibilities for the natural and National Park. Above all else this forum in which it is possible to cultural heritage of this area. requires conservation of hill farming. Today, hill farming operates at the margins of financial viability. A strategy to increase farm Working together on the algae itself was one thing. income, especially to encourage young people to remain in or return Allowing connections to be made from the blue-green to the industry, is required. algae to other issues that people felt were related was another key principle of our working together.

of habitats besides grassland. As changes. The opportunity to work representing particular aspects of well as the high quality landscape at with colleagues specialising in a management. Taking a more Loweswater, a couple of important different area of ecology to holistic approach, made possible by attributes of Loweswater made it a understand the links between land the interdisciplinary and inclusive really interesting place to look at and water has been novel and style of the LCP, provides far relationships between farming and exciting. Secondly, work at greater understanding and the environment. One was the Loweswater has also provided the mutual respect. I believe this will intimate relationship between land opportunity to make links between help to improve catchment and water in a small catchment the land managers and the land in management at Loweswater. where the impacts on the water in very different ways to traditional the lake (with the exception of scientific approaches. These atmospheric impacts) were all likely traditional approaches tend to try to to derive from land management simplify inputs to simple numbers

Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project 13 The LCP initiated 5 small projects

• Leslie Webb: • Angus Winchester/Helen Bennion: • Nick Haycock: What is the contribution of Can we compare lake sediment What does the geomorphology of domestic cleaning detergents to samples and their results to the Loweswater catchment tell phosphorous loads and how historical data and records of us about the condition of the lake well are the domestic sewage land-use and technological at the present time and what treatment plants removing changes in the catchment? actions might improve water phosphorous before discharge of quality? their effluents and sludges? • Stephen Maberly: Do fields with appropriate levels • David Davies: of phosphorus in the soil for What role might tourism play in agriculture nevertheless lose the future economic development substantial amounts of of Loweswater and how do locals phosphorus to Loweswater? feel about such development?

Science and the LCP - the small research projects

£35,000 UK research council funding for small projects arising out of the LCP

Leslie Webb (Local resident) Angus Winchester (LU) Survey of house-hold detergents and and Helen Bennion (UCL) septic tank operation Land-use and lake nutrient records

Nick Haycock (Haycock Associates) Investigation of sediment and flow in Dub Beck and Dub/Park Beck

Stephen Maberly (CEH) David Davies and Emer Clarke How does P travel from soil (Local residents) to watercourses? Tourism in a Quiet Valley

14 Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project PROJECT A None of the properties surveyed were lake catchment and their found to use laundry detergents phosphorus load could thus still reach containing phosphates. While all the lake. The treated sewage effluents surveyed properties had laundry are all discharged to land adjacent to Survey of local washing washing machines, automatic the treatment plants. practices and septic tank dishwashers were present at only about 60% of properties. Of these, The net removal of phosphorus from operation in relation to about 60% used detergents containing the raw sewage in the treatment domestic phosphorous more than 30% phosphates. From plants is estimated to be about 13% detergent usage rates at the at present leaving about 35 kg inputs to Loweswater Loweswater properties, it is phosphorus per year discharged in Lake – Leslie Webb estimated that phosphorus from effluents and sludges to land within detergents accounts for about 5% of the lake catchment. Under the most the total phosphorous in raw sewage. favourable conditions for phosphorus One of the main sources of removal/retention within the soil, the phosphates in Loweswater is There are 18 domestic sewage overall removal of phosphorus by the sewage discharges from domestic treatment plants in Loweswater treatment systems/land could be as sewage treatment plants at ranging from rather old, simple septic high as about 35%, leaving about 26 dwellings - this phosphorous comes tanks that only remove particulate kg phosphorus per year that could from toilets, food preparation and solids and store the resultant sludge, reach the lake. This assumes no the use of phosphates in cleaning to modern “package” plants providing further removal in the soil by compounds. The research a level of treatment comparable with chemical adsorption on soil particles encompassed: that at a sewage treatment works or by incorporation in growing plants. serving a village or town. The The latter could well take place, but • a survey of the use of domestic performance at several of the older the effluent phosphorus would be in washing detergents at properties plants is limited by several factors competition with phosphorus from draining to the lake such as an inadequate frequency of any fertiliser applied to land in the • a review of the phosphate content sludge removal. vicinity of the sewage disposal points. of commercially-available These results are summarised in the detergents, notably for automatic The primary sludge removed from figure below. laundry and dish washing some plants is disposed of within the machines; • a survey of the operational state Estimated phosphorus loads from sewage of the existing domestic sewage treatment plants, notably in compared to other sources relation to their ability to remove phosphorous compounds; • an estimate, based on the above 2006 study - 80 PE this study - 63 PE 100 168 survey data, of the phosphorous 96 loads from sewage discharged within the lake catchment. 80 Fertiliser 2.1 kg P from detergents Untreated

a Sewage Sewage

p 60 sewage after after best P current possible g

k 52 treatment treatment 40 40 35 20 Farmyard 24 26 Slurry Treated Untreated sewage sewage 0

Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project 15 PROJECT B

Linking Historical Land-Use Change with

Palaeolimnological Right: Charting land Records of Nutrient use change since 1866. Annual Change in Loweswater – agricultural returns: parish summaries, Helen Bennion and 1866-1988 (The National Archives, Angus Winchester MAF 68. Photo: Sarah Rose.

This small project sought to discover whether any relationship • Significant land use changes in fertilisers) correlate with the two could be established between the the mid-19th century (spread of periods of major change in the chronology of nutrient enrichment field drainage, use of lime, diatom record, strongly in Loweswater recorded in intensification of land use) and suggesting that changes in environmental evidence, and the mid-20th century (increase in farming practice over the last 200 changing patterns of land use the acreage of improved years have contributed to the recorded in historical sources grassland, increases in livestock nutrient enrichment of the lake. (annual Agricultural Returns, numbers, use of artificial which provide statistics at parish level from 1866 to 1988). Diatom abundances in Loweswater estimated from a • Analysis of the remains of core of lake-bed sediment. diatoms (single celled, siliceous algae) from the lake-bed core, identified two periods of nutrient enrichment in the lake, one in the )

mid-19th century, the second m c (

h t

c. 1950. p

e C C G A A A G C T C F D A D y y o c u s o y a y r c c m h l t m c b c a I- g T lo lo n a e lo e lo g e P • Linking historical and 2000 0 t t p a c ri p t ll t il e e h n o o h e a e a ( s A l l o n o l r l r l l n th e e n l i l i D a a a a a a e id ir ll e ) c g m a m g f r c environmental data suggests that o o iu a l l a r 3 5 m r a m s f a o oc d o d u o m c io to e o g b rm m e u s n n n ra m a i r l a e there was a strong relationship s e c i r o n a o n 1950 is n i n ct s u t s s 10 s le u i a tu a a i is ti ca m s ss between the timing of nutrient 1900 iu 2 m 15 u enrichment in Loweswater and 1850 m changing patterns of land use. 1800 20 1750 25 1700 30 1 35

40

45

50 0200200 02040020400200 02002002002005101520 % relative abundance ug l-1

16 Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project PROJECT C Findings included: PROJECT D • there are some contemporary erosion dynamics which could be Hydrogeomorphological associated with lowering of the How phosphorus investigation of the main water surface of Loweswater travels from soil to post 1938. Channelisation and streams feeding into and revetment of Dub Beck and for a watercourses – out of Loweswater – small section of Holme Beck, Stephen Maberly seem to be associated with Nick Haycock drainage works post 1938. Drainage works on Dub Beck and The survey of soil-phosphorus that Haycock Associates were Whittern appear to be more was undertaken in the fields within commissioned by Lancaster historical, with the culverting of Loweswater suggested that most University and The National Trust to Dub Beck at the Grange Hotel had appropriate levels to maximise undertake a hydrogeomorphological from a much earlier era. grass production. However, an investigation of the streams into and • There appear to be some options appropriate level of phosphorus for out of Loweswater. The investigation to create additional floodplain production does not necessarily included a detailed field walk wetlands, especially on Dub Beck mean that phosphorus does not undertaken in October 2009 and and Whittern Beck, which may leach from the soil. This small subsequent analysis of the site in result in the reduction of fine project analysed phosphorus November 2009. The research sediment entering Loweswater concentration on eight occasions considered the interaction of the from these catchments. between March and July 2010 from lake level on the geomorphology of • There are no recommended streams within seven fields with the becks that discharge into options for Holme Beck, apart different phosphorus-levels. The Loweswater and explored a series from allowing the current stream-survey was undertaken by of channel and floodplain geomorphological processes to Ken Bell, a local farmer but also a restoration options. continue. The current rate of member of the research team. The erosion may reduce locally to the results showed that: shoreline if Loweswater lake • even in streams draining areas level was restored. with relatively low levels of • The fencing of the incised phosphorus, the concentration of Highnook Beck valley needs to be phosphorus can be substantial strongly considered, in order to and in some instances greater reduce sediment supply to the than the concentration in the lower sections of the channel, lake; before Maggie’s bridge. • there is a real trade-off between maximising food production and sustaining the local economy and livelihoods on the one-hand and the ecology of Loweswater on the other.

Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project 17 PROJECT E

Community and Culture - Tourism in a Quiet Valley - David Davies and Emer Clarke

The purpose of this qualitative research project was to understand people’s attitudes towards social and economic development, especially that connected to The Loweswater community is now tourism. Just over half of the 60 mainly an ‘offcomer’ community, people approached provided the majority of whom are originally responses to a questionnaire on this from metropolitan areas and mid - subject. A small number of in-depth dle-class backgrounds and whose conversational interviews were also views and perceptions of the held which provided more community are about retirement contextualised accounts of aspects and recreation – not about work and of life in Loweswater. Later, LCP economic development. The participants were invited to consider older/historical Loweswater was a the results collectively. place of work and employment. The research indicated the existence of Key findings of this study were: perhaps two cultures within the community with crossover between • Loweswater’s population: there them. The valley is active with is a predominance of older mainly retired people and a people; few young people; and declining but significant group of • new types of investment and few families living in Loweswater; farm families. employment could be attracted • Local economy: farms are and housing stock for rent could declining; local skills are The study recommends: be released; disappearing; commuting is • critical thinking and debate about • a change of culture away from declining; career starts are not what changes need to occur home ownership and towards possible in Loweswater; tourism between those wanting little to local sustainability could be is accepted - there is a hotel, a change, and those that see the explored; bothy, a B&B, and a holiday need for larger changes; • non-invasive tourism was cottage - but large numbers of • this debate needs to be about the supported by nearly all tourists are not welcomed by the possibility of Loweswater being respondents, and the research majority. In short, there are few an active valley that can host raised the question of whether jobs for local people; young people and families; Loweswater could become a • Housing: it is too expensive for • Loweswater residents need to skill-centre and a ‘learning local and young people to buy; debate the possibility of tourism valley’ using the skills and offcomers raise house prices; being a major local economic experience of its entire renting is not readily available activity that has the potential to population. and is relatively expensive. grow;

18 Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project What agencies made of now become a hub for receiving and Institutional learning the LCP disseminating information and trying Nigel Watson, Geography to understand these issues. Specific A perspective from the research has been carried out to Division, Lancaster Environment Agency help fill in the missing pieces; create University a more in-depth picture, and by Charlie Bradshaw ultimately influence improvements. Preventing deterioration of the Lessons we can draw catchment and adapting to the I became involved with the possible impact of future climate from the LCP Loweswater Care Project in 2008, and land use changes are challenges explaining the role of the which lie ahead and I look forward to The LCP was conceived and Environment Agency and how we the continuation of this valuable developed as an alternative work together with other project. approach to environmental organisations to tackle issues in the governance. However, it does not catchment. This included providing have any formal status or power, information about the Water and is completely reliant on Framework Directive, one of the voluntary participation from main drivers underpinning this members of the local community, project and explaining the current scientists and the agencies that ‘moderate’ classification for have responsibility for water and Loweswater lake and the objectives land management in the catchment. to prevent deterioration and achieve In this sense, the LCP is a kind of good ecological and chemical status ‘additional’ institution which seeks by 2027. to influence those with power, using a mixture of research, debate and As a result of community persuasion. involvement, the impact that wider issues have had on the area also Some key lessons for the LCP and emerged, such as changes in for other similar groups have population density and Above: Agency representatives attended emerged: demographics, as well as access and many LCP meetings as full participants. recreation. I also remember However, on one occasion the LCP invited • Environmental problems such as them to form a panel to answer questions someone commenting that ‘there’s put to them by increasingly articulate local algal blooms can be interpreted always someone from one people about their roles and responsibilities and defined in many different organisation or another carrying out in the catchment. ways. Taking time to consider research or taking samples round multiple perspectives and here’ challenging the co-ordination arguments is a vital early step of research carried out by the many towards collaborative action. organisations involved. The LCP has • Working across institutional boundaries can be difficult, particularly when agencies are Agency representatives from the National Trust, the pursuing their own policy objectives, often at very different Environment Agency, the Lake District National Park geographical scales. Specific Authority, Natural England, and others were catchment management projects must be capable of extending important participants of the LCP. their reach and influence beyond

more >

Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project 19 the physical boundary of the Blue-green algae and productivity and sustaining farm catchment itself. the LCP: conclusions livelihoods on the one-hand, and • Agency roles, responsibilities and the ecology of Loweswater on the powers are often defined in law. other; In these circumstances, agencies Understanding phosphorus flows • farming in upland environments can find it difficult to hand over like Loweswater operates at very control to a self-organised From previous research it was small economic margins and so institution such as the LCP. already known that phosphorus changing land-use practices in Groups such as the LCP need to reaching the water of Loweswater order to significantly reduce be aware of the power is the main chemical nutrient that phosphorus flows in the relationships that exist, and to be ’feeds’ or ‘limits’ the potentially catchment is very challenging; realistic about the scale and pace toxic algal blooms in the lake. • the amount of phosphorus of change that is possible. However, the LCP has clarified reaching the lake from domestic • Groups such as the LCP need to some important aspects of the waste waters and sewage has develop a sophisticated phosphorus-input issue: been estimated. Best practice in understanding of the institutional • the major land-use in looking after/emptying septic landscape in which they are Loweswater, the farming of tanks, and in disposing of operating, so that livestock, has had an impact on sludges out-of-catchment could recommendations for changes in the ecology of the catchment due reduce this amount (see Webb’s policy can be ‘packaged’ and to the release of phosphorus into study, page 15); aimed at the most appropriate soil and soil water. This • there may be a potential benefit organisational level or group. phosphorus eventually finds its in considering changes to flood • Informal relationships are vitally way into the lake (see Winchester plain management or the important. Mutual trust and and Bennion’s study and fencing around parts of becks to respect take time to develop. Maberly’s study, pp. 16 and 17); reduce soil erosion into • there is therefore a real trade-off Loweswater (see Haycock’s between maximising farm study, p. 17);

The LCP as an example of a new kind of environmental governance was explored at a one-day workshop organized by the LCP on the 3rd of December 2010 in Penrith. Various agency representatives were invited as key speakers and together we explored how the Loweswater Care Project experience squares up with recent developments in ‘official’ thinking about environmental governance and participatory action, and what the most important insights are that the LCP can pass on to Above: Dr. Stuart Above: Discussions agencies. Burgess addressing at the Penrith the Penrith Conference Conference.

20 Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project • recycling of phosphorus in lake pollution problems and the ways in One of these was that relations sediments at the bottom of which the group might address them . between Loweswater’s farmers and Loweswater will mean it may the National Trust began notably to take time to show the beneficial The agenda for the LCP was driven improve. These two groups decided effects of attempts to reduce from within the group itself and to collaborate on the management of phosphorus input into the lake; facilitated by researchers from the main watercourses leading • slurry tanks may also be an Lancaster University and CEH. in and out of Loweswater. At important source of phosphorus Debates could get very heated, and subsequent meetings, this was seen leakage to the lake and should be because of their purposefully open as a major achievement of the LCP. considered in future research. and questioning nature, meetings could appear as too wide-ranging Bringing the public, scientists, and Creating a new forum and not focussed enough. And yet, agencies together in such novel it soon became apparent that ways, the LCP attracted attention The Loweswater Care Project valued concerns held by people within the regionally and nationally, and we the views and experiences of LCP went way beyond the lake: they began to liaise with other scientists, agency representatives, extended, for example, to questions community-driven groups. LCP and the general public in equal encompassing the future of the representatives gave evidence to the measure. It encouraged everyone community and the future of Government’s Uplands Inquiry, and who wished to do so to become farming. The LCP began, after some to the EA’s consultation on the EU involved in the research process and time, to be comfortable in making Water Framework Directive. to contribute to discussions and broad connections through its own Following the Penrith conference policy-related activities. It fostered discussions and preoccupations. discussed above, Dr Doug Wilson of social learning and helped build the Environment Agency wrote of the confidence among the 25-35 Gradually as we all became more LCP: “I think the work at Loweswater participants who regularly attended familiar with a very open style of is probably one of the best examples its meetings. Important insights working together, some very of participation addressing an were gained into the complexities of productive things began to happen. environmental issue that I've seen.”

Postscript housing; the threats to the hill local community coming together farming which has been such a vital with academics and professionals Christine and I moved to the part of the character of the valley; from relevant agencies to face up to Loweswater valley more than 16 the desire to enable more visitors to the challenges, identify possible years ago. It is an immense privilege enjoy the setting and yet the responses and prioritise targets for to live here with the constant importance of preserving the action. The test, of course, will spiritual uplift and physical tranquility and seclusion which be what results from it all and the challenges of the lakes and fells. make it special; combining the commitment of the Loweswater No less a joy is being part of the responsibility of being "trustees" of community to turn analysis in to local community, although this is one of the finest National Parks and action. It is good to know that there complicated for us by having preserving its unique character is determination to maintain the frequently to go to London for while meeting the changing useful networks which the project attendance at the House of Lords. economic and social needs of a developed. As the century moves living community; the call to forward there will be new There are, however, huge develop a sense of stewardship. imperatives.” challenges: the age balance of the community; the growing numbers of Great appreciation is due to all those Frank Judd “offcomers” like us as against the who have actively participated in the Lord Judd is President of Friends of the declining number of local farmers Loweswater Care Project. It has Lake District and a Vice President of the and children; the high cost of been an imaginative example of a Campaign for National Parks.

Dealing with Environmental Challenges Collectively: The Loweswater Care Project 21 www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/projects/loweswater

Designed and produced by Statusdesign.co.uk - printed on Cyclus (TFC), 100% recycled.