The Cotswold Water Park is a constructed landscape created from the gravel digging that has steadily gathered economic importance since World War 2. The result is the largest aggregation of gravel pits in England; a significantly larger body of water than the nationally famous Norfolk Broads.
However, like the Broads, these manmade wetlands have become so important for wildlife that there are now of international Interest.The water park is economically vibrant and is in essence, an example of the Living Landscape vision that the wildlife trusts are promoting; a holistic ecosystem approach that melds environment, economy and peoiple.
The choice of the Four Pillars Hotel, located at the centre of the park, was a very appropriate location for The Wildlife Trusts national Marketing conference. Staff and volunteers, including the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s chair Hugh Tollemache, spent two very busy days working together on the important communication challenge of selling Living Landscapes in a clear and understandable way.
The 47 Wildlife Trusts achieve a tremendous amount. No other wildlife conservation charities achieve more at a local level. Our national work is equally impressive. The recent Marine and Coastal Access Act resulted from the well informed and well supported campaigns the trusts ran. It is just that our combined strength of almost 800,000 members and UK level work is not well enough known.
Effective marketing and clear communications are critical to the future success of the trusts. Gloucestershire is very fortunate in having a Wildlife Trust with a very effective marketing team. The conference benefited from their expertise too.
Cotswold Water Park Key Wildlife Statistics
- Aquatic macrophytes: European importance
- Wintering waterbirds: National & internation importance
- Breeding waterbirds: National importance
- 10 SSSI lakes & 6 SSSI Grasslands (including 2 SACs/1NNR)
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