The following article was written by our local MP, Tom Rutland. Baz, who is frequently mentioned in the article is local resident Barrie Turner who is a member of the World of Widewater (WoW) committee.
Over the past year Widewater Lagoon has proven to be far more than a local environmental
success story. It has become an excellent real life case study for local students, guided by
the incredibly knowledgeable, kind and patient WoW committee member, Baz!
My team and I welcomed over twenty work experience students (GCSE, A-Level and
University) between February and August this year. The groups of students were really
fortunate to meet Baz who gave time each week to explain the history and ecology of the
lagoon and the surrounding area. He talked about the impact of the heatwave of 2025 and
how I worked alongside the community to bring local and national organisations together to
save this beautiful place. He explained how people, nature and climate interact in complex
and wonderful ways!
For these lucky students Widewater Lagoon offers a perfect example of several key topics:
the impact of climate change and extreme weather events on ecosystems and how human
intervention can protect habitats.
The restoration efforts following the 2025 crisis also provides valuable lessons about
stakeholder involvement. Baz was able to explain the roles played by community volunteers
(WoW), government agencies, local politicians and environmental organisations in coming
together to solve environmental problems.
Perhaps most importantly, the Lagoon encouraged these students to think critically about
responsibility for environmental protection. After each visit to the Lagoon, students were
challenged with the question of ‘whether conservation should be left solely to government
bodies, or should local communities play a larger role?’ The resounding conclusion was that
the recovery of the lagoon demonstrates that successful conservation often depends on
partnership. In this case, local people contributed through volunteering, supporting
conservation projects and caring for their surroundings, I brought people together, and an
organisation (the Environment Agency) provided expertise and funding.
The work of WoW demonstrates how community action and partnership can make a
significant difference and Baz embodies this, providing an inspiring example for young
people.
It is so important that students are given the opportunities to connect learning with the
world around them. Widewater Lagoon is a valuable local educational resource. Its history,
environmental challenges and ongoing conservation efforts offer students a unique chance
to understand how geography, environmental science, community and partnership operate
beyond the classroom, making learning both relevant and memorable. Thank you to WoW,
the Environment Agency – and especially, Baz!