Cotswold Lakes Trust

Home
United Kingdom
Cirencester
Cotswold Lakes Trust

Directions Website

Dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of the Cotswold Lakes for wildlife and people

03/11/2026

In October we were lucky enough to have volunteers from Ayvens and Vertex join our rangers for some of our important biodiversity work in the .

A big THANK YOU to both teams for their help coppicing willow along the edge of Waterhay Lake at Cleveland Lakes Nature Reserve last month.

Willow coppicing is essential to maintain biodiversity around the lake, encouraging growth of reed and marginal scrub which in turn attracts species like reed warbler and great crested grebe.

The willow cuttings were used to make dead hedges – the rotting wood is great for invertebrates whilst also serving as good habitat and refuge for small mammals, birds, amphibians.

It’s all part of our nature recovery work supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

👉Want to get your team or organisation involved in similar projects? Find out more: https://cotswoldlakestrust.org/corporate-team-days/

02/11/2026

⏰ We are just one week away from the end of our crowdfunding appeal on Monday 9 November.📣

Please support our appeal and donate TODAY: https://www.spacehive.com/terrificternterritories 🙏💙

We’re raising funds for two tern rafts, which will help terns to breed more safely and successfully when they return to the in the spring.

We will:
☑️Purchase two tern rafts and the materials we need to make them ideal for nesting
☑️Prepare the tern rafts, including predator protection and creating nesting habitat
☑️Launch and anchor the tern rafts at our Shorncote reserve by the spring

👉Why tern rafts?

Terns are often seen around the Cotswold Lakes, but we have few suitable nesting sites that are safe from ground predators like fox, badger and mink, which take eggs and chicks. Terns also compete with other ground-nesting birds.

Because of the shortage of sustainable natural breeding sites in the area, we want to help terns to breed more successfully, by installing two tern rafts at our Shorncote reserve. They will be a safe haven for the terns, away from terrestrial predators. This will lead to more successful breeding and a boosted tern population.

Terns naturally nest in colonies so a number of pairs will nest on a single raft.

👉And it’s great news for people, too…

Birdwatchers, local residents and visitors will be able to enjoy the tern colonies from nearby bird hides, without disturbing the birds.

27/10/2026

We are delighted to say that we've just passed the half way mark in our fundraising appeal!

Thanks so much to everyone who has given so generously 💙

We've got just under two weeks left, so please donate if you can (every £ helps!) and help spread the word so we can reach our target by 9 November!

Together we can help terns breed more successfully here in the

https://www.spacehive.com/terrificternterritories

24/10/2026

Just five weeks until our Icy Dip cold water swim... have you signed up yet?

Cold water swimmers of all abilities are welcome to take part:
❄️Individual races
❄️Two-person relays
❄️Best hat competition (just for fun)
❄️General swim

Want to take the plunge? https://cotswoldlakestrust.org/icydip/

When: Saturday 28 November
Where: Cleveland Lakes Nature Reserve (W3W: ship.weeded.strapping)
Why: All proceeds go to Cotswold Lakes Trust.🩵

The Bluetits Chill Swimmers

21/10/2026

With the autumnal shift in the weather this week, here's a brief guide to some of the feathered friends you might see this season...

15/10/2026

If you enjoyed these head-terning facts, you might be just our kind of person.

Learn more about our appeal to help breed more successfully when they return next spring:

https://cotswoldlakestrust.org/terrific-tern-territories/ (info on our website)
https://www.spacehive.com/terrificternterritories (donate via our appeal page)

Thank you for doing a good tern (and well done for putting up with all the puns) 💙

14/10/2026

Have you seen the recent work done by our rangers at Elmlea Meadow?

Due to the prolonged flooding at Elmlea Meadow last winter and spring, the trackside hedgerow was overdue a significant trim.

Now, with the unseasonably dry October conditions, our rangers have been catching up.

There’s more work to be done both inside and outside the SSSI meadow boundary, but it’s a great start.

We will also be consulting with those responsible for adjoining stretches of the track, to see if the work can be extended, in an effort to make it more passable for horses, cyclists and walkers.

If you’d like to lend a hand with this kind of work, you can find out more about volunteering on our website: https://cotswoldlakestrust.org/volunteering/

Natural England

12/10/2026

Could you be our new Financial Trustee? 🫵

You’ll have:
✅ strong financial skills to help with the next stage of our strategic development
✅ previous experience of operating in the charity sector (an advantage, but not essential)
✅ an interest in conserving and improving the Cotswold Lakes for the benefit of wildlife and people.

We’re seeking a finance professional to join our Board and Finance Committee, as well as being actively involved in our Audit Committee. You’ll also work closely with our Management Accountant.

Sounds like it could be for you? 🔗https://cotswoldlakestrust.org/vacancies/financial-trustee/

10/10/2026

Today is World Migratory Bird Day, and this year we’re doing our bit for terns.

While the terns are away this winter, we’re raising funds for two tern rafts which will help the terns to breed more successfully when they return in the spring.

Terns are often seen around the Cotswold Lakes, but there are few suitable nesting sites that are safe from ground predators like fox, badger and mink. Terns also have to compete with other ground-nesting birds.

We want to help more terns to breed and to increase their breeding success, by installing two tern rafts. As terns naturally nest in colonies, several pairs will be able to nest on a single raft.

We will add a mix of shingle and shells to the rafts so that they mimic the natural shingle islands that terns use for nesting, and side panels will prevent fox and mink scaling the rafts to steal the eggs and chicks.

Please support our appeal and donate today: https://www.spacehive.com/terrificternterritories

More on our website: https://cotswoldlakestrust.org/terrific-tern-territories/

08/10/2026

Not sure if you're ready to take the plunge for our Icy Dip Swim on 28 November?

Watch and be inspired..... https://cotswoldlakestrust.org/icydip/

PS All proceeds go to Cotswold Lakes Trust (which will make you feel warm inside)

Address

Cotswold House, Manor Farm, Down Ampney
Cirencester
GL75QF

Website

http://www.cotswoldlakestrust.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Cotswold Lakes Trust posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.