THE UNIQUE landscape of the Cotswold Water Park and the work of the Cotswold Water Park Trust has been recognised in a national award ceremony.

Cotswold Water Park Trust was presented with the award by the Minerals Product Association in recognition of its leadership and for creating a ‘national asset’.

In the past 50 years, 40 square miles of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire countryside have been transformed through the extraction of sand and gravel into a mosaic of 150 lakes creating a wonderful wetland rich in wildlife and a major leisure destination.

The award was presented by BBC Countryfile presenter Helen Skelton to Matthew Millett, managing director of the CWP Trust, and in turn Matthew presented awards to company representatives from The Hills Group, The Cullimore Group, Aggregate Industries, Hanson and Tarmac, all of which have sand and gravel operations within the Cotswold Water Park.

Matthew said: “I am really pleased to receive this special award from the MPA in recognition of the our achievements in the Water Park and it was an honour to be allowed by the MPA to present awards to the Water Park’s mineral operators.”

In presenting the award, Helen said: “It’s my pleasure to express the industry’s admiration for what you are doing down there in the Cotswolds. It really is quite something.”

Nigel Jackson, chief executive of the MPA said: “The Cotswold Water Park has become a superb place for wildlife and for people of all ages – its progress is a great tribute to the ongoing cooperation between local MPA aggregate operators and the Cotswold Water Park Trust which is clearly doing a great job of managing the vision. We commend all that has been achieved to date and look forward to a very exciting future.”

Peter Andrew, group director – hills quarry products said: “We are absolutely delighted that our restoration work in the Cotswold Water Park has been acknowledged at such a prestigious awards ceremony. Our ongoing partnership with the Cotswold Water Park Trust will help ensure that precious habitats are preserved and exceptional leisure amenities can be enjoyed by current and future generations.”

The MPA’s Cotswold Water Park feature can be viewed at its YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCC5sO3Jl7w.