page_title: Cotswold Water Park
section_title: Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust reserves
hierarchical_section_title: Cotswold Water Park / Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust reserves
context_page_description: The Cotswold Water Park is the United Kingdom's largest marl lake system, straddling the Wiltshire–Gloucestershire border, northwest of Cricklade and south of Cirencester. The lakes were created in the second half of the 20th century by extraction of glacial Jurassic limestone gravel, which had eroded from the Cotswold Hills, and these filled naturally after working began to cease in the early 1970s.
  It is not a water fun park, as the name might suggest. It is a significant area for wildlife and particularly for wintering and breeding birds. The local Wildlife Trusts are involved in partnership with the Cotswold Water Park Trust in working with local communities and organisations in the area. The Cotswold Water Park Trust is an environmental charity working to improve all 40 square miles of the Cotswold Water Park for people and wildlife. The lake area is very varied and encompasses a wide variety of recreational activities including sailing and fishing.
  There are 147 numbered lakes. The area is a mix of nature conservation activities, recreation, rural villages and holiday accommodation. The site was listed in the Cotswold District Local Plan 2001–2011 as a Key Wildlife Site.
context_section_description: The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust activities are based in the eastern section of the Cotswold Water Park.  There are four nature reserves called Whelford Pools, Edward Richardson & Phyllis Amey, Roundhouse Lake and Bryworth Lane.
caption: Example: marbled white on knapweed
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