About the Cotswold Water Park Society
What We Do
The Cotswold Water Park Society Ltd (CWPS) is a non-profit-distributing environmental body with charitable status dedicated to improving the Cotswold Water Park for wildlife and people.
The Society’s main objectives
- Advise / influence developers, local authorities, landowners, voluntary organisations on sustainable development.
- Deliver UK & LBAP targets through practical work, surveys, co-ordination of work by others, advice and influence in partnership with landowners and stakeholders.
- Promote sustainable development throughout the Water Park .
- Provide greater opportunities in the Water Park for education, public art, recreation, public access and sport.
The Society
The Cotswold Water Park Society was formed in 1996 to achieve the objectives as listed above. The Society is a non-profit-distributing environmental body with charitable status which works in partnership with local authorities, parish councils, landowners, mineral companies, environmental organisations, businesses and the Joint Committee - to achieve a careful balance between development, recreation and nature conservation.
The Society has a Board of members drawn from the local authorities, Water Park parishes, sports and conservation organisations as well as businesses in the Water Park and nearby. Its founder patron is Professor David Bellamy OBE.
Working through the Joint Committee, the four local authorities (Cotswold District Council, North Wiltshire District Council, Gloucestershire County Council and Wiltshire County Council) control large scale strategic and planning issues, whilst the Society is dedicated to fund raising, establishing partnerships with other bodies and practical management on the ground.
The Society also works with Water Park businesses (many of which are privately owned) to promote the ever increasing number of facilities within the Park.
Our sites
The Society manages Neighbridge, Cleveland Lakes, the Gateway Centre, Coke's Pit Local Nature Reserve, several other nature reserves, the disused Cricklade-South Cerney railway line, and 4 beautiful picnic sites & car parks. We manage public access across the Park and maintain over 50 km of footpaths.
We with 100+ volunteers who help with administration, project development, conservation work, guided walks, bird & mammal surveys, bird ringing and practical maintenance.
