Abstract: A packing element 70, 94, 112 for an evaporative cooler, which comprises an apertured, corrosion resistant structure which includes a sheet of expanded metal. The metal is preferably of a ferritic corrosion resistant material such as 3Cr12. The invention also provides for a method of packing an evaporative cooler which includes using, in a single packing 68 for an evaporative cooler, packing elements 94 having a configuration suited to cross-flow conditons and, in addition, packing elements 70 having a configuration suited to counter-flow conditions. The invention provides further for a method of supporting a packing 68 having a trickle pack configuration, in a wet cooling tower 40.