Protecting Windermere’s iconic yet fragile ecology

On 20 March, PhD researcher Taylor Butler-Eldridge from the University of Exeter is hosting the second Windermere Science Evening at the Old Laundry Theatre in Bowness, where guests can learn about the current conditions of Windermere, and what can be done to help improve this iconic yet fragile ecology

PhD Researcher Taylor Butler-Eldridge from the University of Exeter is hosting the second Windermere Science Evening at the Old Laundry Theatre in Bowness on Wednesday 20 March 2024. Guests can arrive for welcome drinks from 6.30pm. The presentations will begin promptly at 7pm.

Guests can expect an evening of talks from the University of Exeter, Freshwater Biological Association, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, South Cumbria Rivers Trust, and Lancaster University. The evening will feature historical and current research, monitoring, and practical initiatives to help understand and improve water quality and ecological health within the Windermere catchment.

The evening will be a chance to learn more about the main pressures that affect water quality, long-term data, and the freshwater critters (human and non-human) swimming in this iconic yet fragile ecology. There will be a chance to ask the panel of speakers about the state of Windermere, and what can be done to help improve conditions. 

Talks include:

• ‘Outdoor Swimming and Environmental Health at Windermere’ by Taylor Butler-Eldridge (University of Exeter).
• ‘Windermere’s History and Current Pressures on Water Quality’ by Dr Louise Lavictoire (Freshwater Biological Association).
• ‘Long-term Changes in the Ecology of Windermere’ by Dr Ellie Mackay and Dr Steve Thackeray (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology).
• ‘Invasive Non-Native Species in the Windermere Catchment’ by Sammy Graves (South Cumbria Rivers Trust).
• ‘Water Quality Insights from the Big Windermere Survey’ by Dr Ben Surridge (Lancaster University).

Tickets are free for this event and available to book at oldlaundrytheatre.co.uk/event/windermere-science-evening-2024. The hosts are only issuing e-tickets for this event, so please have your digital ticket available on your phone to be scanned by Box Office staff on the evening. Your confirmation email will have a downloadable link to your ticket.

Contact the venue if you have any additional access needs. Contact the host, Taylor Butler-Eldridge, via email – tb585@exeter.ac.uk – to discuss any learning needs. The event will also be live streamed on YouTube (no registration or booking required). 

This event is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, the South-West Doctoral Training Partnership, and the University of Exeter.