Cotswold Water Park
Encyclopedia
The Cotswold Water Park is the United Kingdom
's largest water park. It consists of 147 numbered lake
swhich were formed by allowing old gravel quarries
to become filled with water.
, on the River Thames
(not far from its source) and the River Churn
, about five miles south of Cirencester
, on the border between Wiltshire
and Gloucestershire
, near the villages of South Cerney
and Ashton Keynes
. The Eastern part is near the A417
, on the River Coln
, lying between Fairford
and Lechlade
. The site straddles the Gloucestershire/Wiltshire boundary.
Some of the more recently created lakes have been connected to the River Thames, which flows amongst them. The lakes and the river are linked by large underground pipes to act as a flood defence scheme. If too much water falls in the area it is be taken in by the lakes and subsequently passed on down the river. In addition to these, there are many water spillways leading from the Thames to the few remaining fields.
. There are many water sports and other activities available. Only a small number of the lakes are open for public use. The Site of Special Scientific Interest
extends to 337 acres (136.4 ha).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's largest water park. It consists of 147 numbered lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
swhich were formed by allowing old gravel quarries
Gravel pit
Gravel pit is the term for an open cast working for extraction of gravel. Gravel pits often lie in river valleys where the water table is high, so they may fill naturally with water to form ponds or lakes. Old, abandoned gravel pits are normally used either as nature reserves, or as amenity areas...
to become filled with water.
Location
The Western part is located by the A419 roadA419 road
The A419 road is a primary route between Chiseldon near Swindon at junction 15 of the M4 with the A346 road, and Whitminster in Gloucestershire, England....
, on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
(not far from its source) and the River Churn
River Churn
The River Churn is one of the Cotswold rivers that feeds into the River Thames catchment. It arises at Seven Springs near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England and flows south across the Cotswold dip slope, passing through Cirencester and joining the River Thames near Cricklade in Wiltshire...
, about five miles south of Cirencester
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
, on the border between Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
and Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, near the villages of South Cerney
South Cerney
South Cerney is a village and civil parish in the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, 3 miles south of Cirencester and close to the border with Wiltshire. It had a population of 3,074 according to the 2001 census...
and Ashton Keynes
Ashton Keynes
Ashton Keynes is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, near the border with Gloucestershire, about 6 miles south of Cirencester and 4 miles north of Cricklade. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,420. The village lies within the Cotswold Water Park and is...
. The Eastern part is near the A417
A417 road
-Streatley - Gloucester :It runs from Streatley at its junction with the A329 to Wantage, over the picturesque Berkshire Downs. In Wantage, it negotiates the market place -Streatley - Gloucester (M5):It runs from Streatley at its junction with the A329 (between Reading and Wallingford) to Wantage,...
, on the River Coln
River Coln
The River Coln is a river in Gloucestershire, England. It rises at Brockhampton to the east of Cheltenham, and flows in a south/south-easterly direction through the Cotswold Hills via Andoversford, Withington, Fossbridge, Bibury, Coln St Aldwyns and Fairford...
, lying between Fairford
Fairford
Fairford is a small town in Gloucestershire, England. The town lies in the Cotswolds on the River Coln, about east of Cirencester, west of Lechlade and north of Swindon. Nearby are RAF Fairford and the Cotswold Water Park.-Schools:...
and Lechlade
Lechlade
Lechlade, or Lechlade-on-Thames, is a town at the southern edge of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, England. It is the highest point at which the River Thames is navigable. The town is named after the River Leach that joins the Thames near here....
. The site straddles the Gloucestershire/Wiltshire boundary.
Some of the more recently created lakes have been connected to the River Thames, which flows amongst them. The lakes and the river are linked by large underground pipes to act as a flood defence scheme. If too much water falls in the area it is be taken in by the lakes and subsequently passed on down the river. In addition to these, there are many water spillways leading from the Thames to the few remaining fields.
Amenities
The park is popular for birdwatchingBirdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
. There are many water sports and other activities available. Only a small number of the lakes are open for public use. The Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
extends to 337 acres (136.4 ha).