Cotswold water park

Please tell us what you think about our website, we welcome your feedback.

Customer notice

Due to essential maintenance some of our web services will be unavailable between these times 7pm Friday 25 May and 5pm Sunday 27 May 2012.

In case of any emergencies please see our Facebook or Twitter pages.

What is the Cotswold Water Park?

The Cotswold Water Park is an area of more than 144 lakes set in 40 square miles of countryside, located in the north Wiltshire and south Gloucestershire part of the Upper Thames catchment.

The lakes have been created from decades of sand and gravel extraction. Set to continue for many years, this activity will result in the creation of further lakes in the future.

This extensive network of lakes now provoides a wealth of opportunities for land and water based recreation and nature conservation.

The work of the local authorities and other key organisations in the Water Park is co-ordinated by the Cotswold Water Park Joint Committee, which supports the work of the Cotswold Water Park Society.

A vision for the future of the Water Park, with clear objectives and actions, has been developed through the preparation of a Strategic Review and Implementation Plan for the Cotswold Water Park (Master Plan)

The Wildlife of the Water Park

The Water Park is nationally important for wildlife, supporting large numbers of wintering wildfowl, including nationally important winter populations of Pochard, Gadwell, Coot and Great Crested Grebe. Many of the lakes are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for their aquatic plant assemblages and the area also supports species such as Otters, Water Voles and the native White-Clawed Crayfish.

For more information about the wildlife of the Water Park check out the Cotswold Water Park Society web site

Cotswold Water Park Biodiversity Action Plan

In order to protect and enhance the Water Park's biodiversity, the Cotswold Water Park Society, together with the key partners including Wiltshire Council recently published the Cotswold Water Park Biodiversity Action Plan.

Recreation

There is a great range of land and water based leisure opportunities in the Water Park for both the day visitor and those who wish to stay longer. Some of the facilities are members only, but many are open to the public. To find out what the Cotswold Water Park can offer you, check out the Cotswold Water Park Society web site.

Last updated: 16 December 2009