Stroud Waters
FEATURES,  NEWS

A unique vision for a community pool

Health worker Amy Morris wishes to create a geothermal swimming pool in the middle of the Cotswolds, allowing swimmers to take a dip all year round. We spoke to Amy about her unique vision.

Health worker and open water swimmer Amy Morris has a unique vision for a swimming hub in the Cotswolds.

She wishes to create a natural outdoor pool in rural Gloucestershire to be used by the community all year round. A section of the pool will be heated by geothermal energy, while the remainder will be left to change temperature through the seasons.

The two pools would be naturally filtered by aquatic plants and bio-filtration systems. The warm pool will be heated by a geothermal well.

Stroud Waters is crowdfunding £36,000 for a feasibility study for creating this swimming hub. If the feasibility study proves successful, the project will be presented to the council for the pre-application consultation in summer 2025.

We spoke to Stroud Waters founder Amy about hew unique vision.

Stroud Waters

Amy, what is your vision for Stroud Waters?

Our mission is to create a community outdoor bio-filtered natural pool, for those seeking a connection with nature, water, and each other. It will provide a safe, inclusive and sustainable swimming experience that will enhance community well-being and increase biodiversity.

A section of the pool will incorporate heated water, so it can be used all year round. We’ve been offered land by a local farmer in the Stroud area.

What inspired you to start this project?

My inspiration came from seeing the need in the community for a safe, natural swimming space all year round. I woke up on a December morning three years ago and thought, “Wow, I wish I had somewhere to swim outdoors that was safe, natural and affordable.” I’m a trustee of our local lido but it is only open three months of the year in the summer. There is definitely a gap that needs filling to provide more inclusive, safe swimming outdoors in nature.

Stroud Waters

The heated section of the pool is a unique idea. What inspired you to incorporate this?

Although I do love a cold water dip, I would like to create a natural pool that wasn’t freezing cold in the winter so I could get my head in the water and swim, swim, swim. I just love swimming so much. The way you glide through the water, the all-over wellness you feel afterwards, and the community in and out of the water. I know that more people would swim outdoors in winter if the temperature was not so bracing.

What’s your own swimming journey?

I’ve done a few triathlons pre-children, and went to Slovenia with the Gloucestershire Blue Tits couple of years ago to take part in the Winter World Swimming Championships. But really my connection to water is around improving and maintaining my mental health on a daily basis. Dips in my pool in garden, or a swim at the leisure centre all help balance my mood, especially in the winter. I was introduced to cold water immersion a couple of years ago and now totally addicted. I want to create a swimming venue that is natural, where people are encouraged to come all year round.

Stroud Waters will be a family-friendly hub so that children and families can be encouraged to spend more time outdoors. I’m a Health Visitor in Stroud so community and family well-being is a passion of mine.

Find out more about Stroud Waters and donate to their crowdfunder: communitywaters.co.uk

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Abi writes swimming news stories and features for the Outdoor Swimmer website and manages the social media channels. She loves to swim, run, hike and SUP close to her home in Herefordshire. While she’s a keen wild swimmer, Abi is new to the world of open water events and recently completed her first open water mile. She has previously written for The Guardian, BBC Countryfile Magazine, BBC History Magazine and Ernest Journal.