The Dragon Hunt Competition is now closed.... You can however still use the quiz if you wish, it will still provide some family fun next time you visit Coate Water! ....

If you care to take a moment to browse through the pages of this website you will see that Coate Water Country Park provides an excellent setting for a family day out.

Events at Coate

To enter the competition, all you have to do is follow the clues on our Dragon Hunt treasure map around the park to discover its hidden treasures (you can download a map and clues by clicking on the pictures of them on this page).

You will need the entry form (even though the competition is ended) as it has some extra clues on it to help you. If you have any problems with any of the clues or you need to know the answers, either send us an email to coatewaterswindon@tiscali.co.uk or pop into the cafe at Coate Water and someone is sure to be able to help you!

Although the cafe opening hours tend to vary according to the weather, the core opening times are 12.00 to 3.00pm (winter) or 10.30 to 5.00 (summer).

The quiz is quite a 'toughie' and will test your knowledge of Coate, but don't worry, there are plenty of clues to help you!

The Coate Water Dragon Hunt was designed to help families explore some of the very special features of this beautiful Wiltshire country park and have some fun this summer. Even though the competition is now closed, you can still enjoy the quiz and search for the true 'treasures' of Coate

There have been many discussions recently regarding the future of the land adjoining Coate Water Country Park. Although this land was once part of the 'Green Belt' around Swindon, it's suitability for development is currently under examination, this has become the subject of great debate.

Although the known development proposals do not include the actual land of the park itself, it is the potential long term effects upon the park, and the surrounding countryside (officially recognised as an area of outstanding natural beauty and rich in historical and archeological links) that has given rise to such an unprecedented arousal in public feeling.

To date, over 25,000 people have signed a petition calling for a decent buffer zone around the park, over 2000 objections to the plans and approx 700 more objections concerning changes to the plans (including changing the name of the development from the Coate development to the Commonhead development) have been received.

The benefits of such a development in terms of housing (there are promises that 30% of the homes will be 'affordable' or 'social housing', additional commercial space (new office blocks including a 7 story high glass pyramid) and a new University for the town (a much desired asset for a growing town) are perhaps not only recognisable but clearly would be of great benefit to the town. However, alternative sites have been suggested and there are many that believe a town centre University would be instumental in its (the town's) much needed regeneration.

Coate Water Country Park was previously voted as 'Swindonians favourite place', people from all over the world (reflected by some of the addresses on the petition!) consider it special enough to make time to visit it whenever they can and generations of local people have personal tales to relate from their own, or their parents, experiences of the park. Perhaps, therefore, it is also understandable that feelings concerning the future of the land around the park are so strong and that, as part of our heritage, people feel it should be protected.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE 'GREAT DEBATE' ABOUT COATE: You may like to browse these other informative sites for some background to the issues;

Swindon Link - for News on Coate

Campaign to Save Coate

Dragonflies at Coate Water

Wildlife Watch for Children at Coate

Ranger's Events at Coate Water

Environmental Education Programme

British Butterflies

SSSI Status at Coate Water

Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust - Why do we have Nature Reserves?

Millenium Trail

Richard Jefferies Society

Coate's Stone Circle

More information on the Stone Circle at Coate

Planning proposals for the land around Coate

How to object to the planning proposals at Coate

This is Wiltshire - Local News Articles on Coate

Swindon - City for the 21st Century?

University Growth Strains Funding

Campaign to protect rural England

English Nature Report - Condition of SSSI units (Wiltshire)

Swindon Civic Trust - Swindoians favourite place

University blasted over University plan

RSPB Conservation Action

Return of the Wiltshire Otter

Otters in Swindon

If you would like to join in and chat, make friends or meet up with old friends from Swindon, why not pop along to this excellent chat room, supported by local radio stations GWR and SWINDON FM