Cotswold Lakes Trust’s new play area at Neigh Bridge Country Park gets a giant thumbs-up
6 October 2022

Cotswold Lakes Trust’s new play area went down a storm when the gate was officially opened at Neigh Bridge Country Park in Somerford Keynes.

After a speedy ribbon-cutting ceremony, local children clambered all over the equipment. Even Gloucestershire County Councillor Lisa Spivey had a go.

“It’s fantastic. We’ve waited so long for something like this,” said Somerford Keynes Parish Councillor Mark Hastie-Oldland.

Executive Chairman of Cotswold Lakes Trust Paul Hazel thanked all those who helped fund the project, especially The Hills Group, along with Gloucestershire County Council Build Back Better Grant and local company, Somerford Consulting.“We’re really proud to have been able to make this project happen,” he said. “It’s a great new facility which was much needed.”

Group Director for Hills Quarry Products, Peter Andrew, cut the opening ribbon along with five-year-old Rose Hastie-Oldland who then made mincemeat of the monkey bars. “Hills have been operating in the Cotswold Water Park area for over100 years and have created many of the lakes and wonderful habitats you see in this area today. We are proud to support Cotswold Lakes Trust in the projects they undertake to enhance biodiversity and community engagement,” said Mr Andrew.

The play equipment was designed and built by Helen Shackleton and Lloyd Turner incorporating recycled salvageable parts from the previous playground.
Mum of four, Shirin Pawlowska, was delighted to have a place for her children to play. “We don’t have a village green or an area where kids can gather in Somerford Keynes, so this is perfect. It was worth waiting for,” she said.

Cotswold Lakes Trust plays a major role in the environmental welfare of the Cotswold Water Park– a network of 180 lakes stretching across 42square miles from South Cerney in the north and Somerford Keynes in the west, to Cricklade in the south and Lechlade in the east. Based in Down Ampney, Cotswold Lakes Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees (all volunteers) who oversee the work of a small team of just seven staff, assisted by loyal volunteers. It receives no core funding from central or local government and relies heavily on donations.

The Cotswold Water Park is nationally recognised as a unique wetland area which is home to tens of thousands of water birds, 20,000 residents and 1million visitors per year.

For more information, www.cotswoldlakestrust.org