The Love Windermere Partnership invited Rachel to visit England鈥檚 largest freshwater lake following the recent NFU Water Summit held on Rachel鈥檚 farm.
It was an opportunity for the Vice-president to see how the NFU鈥檚 three pledges to water availability and quality - robust data, advice and information and partnership working - work in action at Windermere.聽
Rachel was given a behind the scenes tour of a United Utilities Wastewater Treatment plant and spoke to Love Windermere partners about their work to improve water quality in Lake Windermere and how they are involving the local farming community in that work. Rachel and the partners also discussed Love Windermere鈥檚 farm engagement project, land management workstream and action plan.聽
We need to play our part
Rachel said on the day: 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a fascinating afternoon understanding what鈥檚 going on at the United Utilities treatment works, understanding the water that gets released into the lake, but even more importantly, for me, is understanding how the partnership is bringing the farmers in the local area together to understand what鈥檚 going on in their fields, on their land, and what they are doing in the area.
鈥淚鈥檝e said time and time again that as farmers we need to play our part when it comes to water quality. These can be simple things, from knowing what your soil type is like, knowing what your soil content is like, and actually being able to manage your inputs into that soil to ensure that you as a farmer are getting the best value from those inputs and ensuring the water that flows over, and through that soil, is not taking any of those important nutrients away with it.
鈥淲indermere is the largest freshwater lake in England. It really is a beautiful part of the world. Today, it is buzzing with tourists. It is vital that this lake is preserved for the future generations of people to come and visit and for the economic value that those visitors bring to the area.鈥�
David Hall, NFU North Regional Director, said: 鈥淟ove Windermere is a delivery partnership that is working to a common goal of improving water quality in the lake. The visit was a great opportunity for our vice-president to hear from a number of partners about the work they are undertaking and the size of the issue.聽
鈥淭he farming community have a role to play in helping improve water quality and that is no different in this catchment than it is in other parts of the country Rachel has visited. Rachel can now speak with confidence on the national stage about the actions that are being taken in the Windermere catchment.鈥�
Taking action together
Nigel Wilkinson MBE, Independent Chair of Love Windermere, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to be working alongside the NFU and local farmers to protect Windermere鈥檚 future. Rachel鈥檚 visit highlighted the value that the farming community bring in practical solutions, and the power of working in partnership to improve water quality.聽
鈥淭ogether, we鈥檙e building trust, sharing knowledge, and taking action that works for both the land and the lake.鈥�
