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· collected 2026-08-31 · by TOI World Desk
Anthony Edmondson, a man from England, spent his life's earnings purchasing a 130-acre abandoned gravel pit in the Cotswolds in the 1980s and transformed it into a wildlife haven by planting 50,000 trees and introducing wildflowers and reeds. The property, known as Log House Holidays, now combines accommodation with outdoor activities amidst a landscape supporting birds and other wildlife, earning it designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Edmondson's work has helped create habitats for a wide range of wildlife in the area, which was once barren land. Today, visitors can stay in one of eight holiday cabins on the property, each with access to the lake.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-31,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Anthony Edmondson spent his life’s earnings buying a 130-acre abandoned gravel pit in the Cotswolds, south central England, in the 1980s.
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Edmondson → spend → 1980s
He planted 50,000 trees, sowed wildflowers and added reeds to the water which over the years, has transformed the former industrial site into a landscape supporting birds and other wildlife.
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which → plant → birds
Edmondson’s decision was influenced by his time in Canada.
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decision → influence → Canada
Isabel Choat writes in The Guardian that Edmondson had worked in the silver mines of the Yukon and spent his time off staying in remote areas.
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Edmondson → write → areas
When he returned to England and bought the former gravel pit, he wanted to recreate that feeling of wilderness closer to home.
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he → return → home
His work eventually helped the estate gain designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
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estate → help → Interest
Today, the property, known as Log House Holidays, has eight holiday cabins, each with access to the lake.
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property → know → lake
The site combines accommodation and outdoor activities with the wildlife habitat Edmondson created.
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Edmondson → combine → habitat
How barren land changed
The property lies near Pool Keynes, on the western edge of the Cotswolds Water Park.
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property → change → Park
Edmondson’s 50,000 trees, wildflowers and reeds changed the character of the former gravel pit and created habitats for a wide range of wildlife.
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trees → change → wildlife
The Cotswolds is known for its rolling hills, fields, hedgerows and honey-coloured villages, but south of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the landscape also contains about 170 lakes.
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landscape → know → lakes
Most of these lakes were created about 50 years ago when gravel was extracted from the land.
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gravel → create → land
After the pits were no longer needed, many were bought by private owners or converted into nature reserves.
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many → need → reserves
The Cotswolds Water Park Trust now works to balance wildlife conservation with recreation across the area.
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Trust → work → area
The lakes support wintering and breeding birds, while other parts of the wider Water Park are used for activities such as waterskiing and wakeboarding.
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parts → support → waterskiing
Edmondson’s 50,000 trees, wildflowers and reeds changed the character of the former gravel pit
Land becomes retreat
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Land → change → pit
The natural landscape Edmondson created also became the setting for Log House Holidays.
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Edmondson → create → Holidays
Visitors reach the cabins through an avenue of spruce before arriving at the lakes and woodland.
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Visitors → reach → lakes
The cabins were inspired by outback cabins in Canada but were imported from Finland.
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cabins → inspire → Finland
Built with chunky logs, they have underfloor heating supplied by a water pump.
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they → build → pump
Each cabin also has its own rowing boat, giving visitors direct access to the lake.
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cabin → have → lake
The lake and surrounding woodland have become an important part of the visitor experience.
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lake → surround → experience
During an autumn visit, the changing colours of the trees were reflected in the water.
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colours → change → water
A rowing trip offered opportunities to spot wildlife, although otters reportedly seen near the cabin did not appear.
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otters → offer → cabin
A heron was instead seen flying low over the water.
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heron → see → water
The lake also provided a setting for the writer’s 10-year-old son to use the rowing boat independently.
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son → provide → boat
Visitors can also try activities including paddleboarding and kayaking.
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Visitors → try → paddleboarding
The wider Cotswolds Water Park has a mix of quieter wildlife sites and lakes used for watersports, making the former gravel pits part of both the area's natural environment and tourism industry.
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pits → have → environment
Choat describes how being surrounded by the landscape made the effect of nature particularly noticeable during the stay.
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effect → describe → stay
Her family also visited nearby Cirencester when rain interrupted their outdoor plans.
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rain → visit → plans
Its Corinium Museum contains Roman artefacts found in and around the area, including mosaics.
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Museum → contain → mosaics
They also visited the remains of what had once been one of Britain’s largest amphitheatres.
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what → visit → amphitheatres
The property is also close to Trewsbury Mead, a meadow identified as the source of the River Thames.
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property → identify → Thames
The source is seasonal, meaning there may be no visible stream during dry weather.
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source → mean → weather
A large stone now marks the location.
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stone → mark → location
Before it was placed there in 1974, a statue of Father Thames marked the spot.
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statue → place → spot
A wooden signpost points towards the Thames Barrier, 184 miles away.
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signpost → point → Barrier
