Roz Savage MP Celebrates Cotswold Lakes Launch
Roz Savage MP joined the launch of the Cotswold Lakes, marking an exciting new chapter for this much-loved landscape at the heart of the South Cotswolds.
The former Cotswold Water Park has now become Cotswold Lakes, a name that better reflects the area’s stunning wetland environment, rich biodiversity, and diverse activities.
On 29th March, Roz celebrated the Cotswold Lakes as a place where nature, sustainable tourism, and community wellbeing come together. She said: "The Cotswold Lakes perfectly balance conservation, leisure, and local enterprise. This isn’t just a name change - it’s a statement about valuing our landscapes, supporting local businesses, and protecting wildlife. I look forward to seeing this vision thrive."
With over 180 lakes across 42 square miles, many designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation, Cotswold Lakes is home to some of the UK’s most important wetland habitats. The lakes support a wealth of wildlife, including internationally significant waterbird populations, rare aquatic plants, and species in urgent need of protection, such as water voles and black poplars.
Cotswold Lakes Trust is the charity dedicated to the Cotswold Lakes for the benefit of wildlife and people. Its Cotswold Lakes Water Vole Recovery Project has helped water voles recover from a 97% population decline, tackling threats from habitat loss and invasive predators. The Black Poplar Project works to strengthen genetic diversity among one of Britain’s rarest trees, a third of the females grow in the Cotswold Lakes.
Roz also reflected on the Climate and Nature Bill, noting that while party politics prevented it from passing in full, it secured important government commitments. These include Local Nature Recovery Strategies, which align with Cotswold Lakes Trust’s long-term environmental plans.
She praised the Trust’s collaboration with local businesses, farmers, agencies, and conservation groups such as Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, and the Cotswold Canals Trust.
Paul Hazel, Executive Chairman of Cotswold Lakes Trust, said: "For years, the name Cotswold Water Park caused confusion, with visitors expecting water slides and swimming pools. Cotswold Lakes better reflects this stunning wetland landscape and will inspire more people to connect with it."
Tourism plays a huge role in the local economy, with visitor spending in the Cotswolds exceeding £360 million annually and supporting nearly 6,500 jobs. Around one million people visit the Cotswold Lakes each year, enjoying everything from watersports and birdwatching to nature trails and educational programmes.
The Trust is the only organisation working at a landscape scale across the Cotswold Lakes to ensure that the provision for tourism is sustainably balanced with the area’s significant national and international importance to wildlife.
"With the right approach, nature recovery and tourism can thrive together," Roz said.
ENDS
Note to Editors:
- A copy of a press release from the Cotswolds Lakes Trust is attached.
- More photos can be found here.
- All photo credits are included in image names.