Biodiversity
Lying at the head of the Thames Valley, the mosaic of wetland habitats in the Cotswold Water Park has created one of the biodiversity hotspots of the South-West ; over the next 50 years this area and its nature conservation value are set to dramatically increase.
The Society is working with a range of partners to integrate nature conservation and wildlife into the current and future development of the Cotswold Water Park, creating new reserves whilst maximising the contribution to nature conservation from built development, mineral extraction and the provision of sports and recreation.
The Cotswold Water Park Biodiversity Action Plan is a key tool to guide this work and realise these aims.
Key Facts
- Internationally and nationally important for wintering wildfowl
- Nationally important for breeding birds such as Great Crested Grebe and Little Ringed Plover
- Many species that are declining nationally are either stable or increasing in the Water Park including Nightingale, Reed Bunting and Tree Sparrows
- Up to 200 species of bird visit the Cotswold Water Park each year
- A thriving Otter population and an expanding Water Vole population
- Regionally important dragonfly populations
- Ten lakes are designated SSSIs
- Six wildflower meadows are designated SSSIs
The Cotswold Water Park hosts internationally important numbers of wintering waterfowl (20,000) and nationally important winter populations of Pochard, Gadwall, Coot and Great Crested Grebe. Ten of the lakes are designated as SSSI because of the assemblages of aquatic plants that thrive in the clear lime rich waters. The lakes support a nationally important breeding population of Great Crested Grebe and 20 species of dragonfly. Between the gravel workings there are numerous unimproved wildflower meadows of which two, North Meadow NNR and Clattinger Farm are candidate Special Areas of Conservation (SAC’s) under the European Natura 2000 complex and a further 6 are designated SSSIs. There are several limestone rivers and streams (Churn, Ampney Brook, Coln and Leach) running through the Water Park into the River Thames. These river and streams support healthy fish populations, Otters, Water Voles and Kingfisher.
Alongside the constant demand in the Water Park for more mineral extraction, there’s always been tremendous commercial pressure for business developments - including water sports, recreational developments, second homes, hotels and holiday complexes. Partly in response to this pressure, the Cotswold Water Park Biodiversity Action Plan was developed.
