Part of wider plans to ensure the needs of people and nature are both met, Cotswold Lakes has secured a £31,000 grant to improve facilities and public access to one of the park's most popular sites for water sports.
A grant from national waste management firm Enovert will be used by Cotswold Lakes Trust to create a new water sports hub at Cleveland Lakes, to meet a growing demand for water-based activities at the site.
The project will involve the installation of two large shipping containers to provide facilities for public and club use, including a welfare unit, shelter and storage for non-motorised water sports such as rowing, canoeing, triathlon, paddleboarding and open-water swimming.
The hub will act as a base for activities at Cleveland Lakes, which covers an area of 330 acres and includes a nature reserve along with two of the largest lakes in the Cotswold Water Park — which was recently renamed Cotswold Lakes — Wickwater Lake and Waterhay Lake.
The trust says the project, which is boosted by an additional grant from the British Canoe Society, will improve public access to the lakes whilst reinforcing its commitment to protecting the lakes' biodiversity, ensuring that activities do not harm local wildlife and habitats.
The hub is a part of the trust's wider vision to make Cleveland Lakes 'an exemplar project' showcasing how the needs of people and wildlife can co-exist, with Wickwater Lake being carefully managed for wildlife and Waterhay Lake becoming 'a major regional training and competition venue' for low impact, environmentally sustainable activities.
Matthew Millett, development director of Cotswold Lakes Trust, said: 'We are thrilled to be taking this vital step to improve public access to Cleveland Lakes.
'This exciting project, which will hopefully be completed in November, will allow us to meet growing demand for non-motorised water sports while ensuring they remain in harmony with the site’s natural surroundings.'
The grant comes from the Enovert Community Trust, which supports community and environmental projects in areas where the waste management firm operates, as part of the Landfill Communities Fund, a tax credit scheme designed to compensate for the negative impacts of landfill sites.
Angela Haymonds of Enovert Community Trust said: 'The Trust is delighted to support this project that opens up such a beautiful space for local sports.
'Our funding is helping to provide essential infrastructure to encourage more people to get involved and benefit from the natural environment Cleveland Lakes offers.'
