Colwick Country Park

We have issued a warning about the dangers of swimming in open water after a large group of people were seen jumping into the River Trent.

Officers attended Beeston Weir around 7pm on Wednesday (8 July) where around 30 people had gathered on both banks of the river.

With another period of hot weather expected to last over the weekend and into next week, we are urging people to heed warnings and stay out of the water.

Almost half of accidental drownings happen in the warmer months and often involve people who take a spur-of-the-moment decision to enter the water.

Dangers posed by open water include very cold temperatures, even in heatwave conditions, strong underwater currents, unexpected water depths and other hazards such as debris, weeds, pumps and mechanical equipment.

Inspector Usha Madaraa said: "It’s going to remain hot and sunny this week and people will obviously want to be out and about enjoying the summer.

"They will also want to keep cool, but going into open water is not a safe way to do this and puts yourself and other people's lives at risk.

“The Trent and other rivers and canals around Nottinghamshire may look incredibly enticing but you won’t know the dangers that lurk beneath the surface.

"We intend to increase patrols close to the weir and in other locations in Nottinghamshire, but we cannot be everywhere.

“There are no lifeguards, you don’t know how deep it is, or what’s in the water.

“You could get tangled up in the weeds, land on a discarded shopping trolley, and hurt yourself.

“Even with the hot weather, the water could still be cold causing you to go into cold water shock.

“No matter how strong of a swimmer you believe you are, or if your mates are jumping in, or you’re following a trend on TikTok and egging each other on – remember the dangers.

“Please enjoy the good weather but don’t go jumping or swimming in open water, it’s really not worth the risk.”

‼️☀️ Hot Weather Reminder at Colwick Country Park ☀️‼️

With hot weather forecast over the next few days, we’d like to remind visitors of two important site rules:

🏊 NO SWIMMING in any of the lakes, except during organised and lifeguarded sessions operated by Whole Health on West Lake during their designated operating times.

Whilst the lakes may look inviting, many areas contain hidden underwater obstacles, sudden depth changes and other hazards that can pose a serious risk.

🔥 NO BBQs ALLOWED anywhere within the park.

Please remember to:
💧 Stay hydrated
🧴 Wear sun cream
🌳 Seek shade during the hottest part of the day
🐶 Consider leaving dogs at home during periods of extreme heat where possible
🕖 Early morning and evening are often the best times to enjoy the park when temperatures are cooler.

Colwick Country Park is a large site. Onsite Rangers will be doing their best to patrol all areas whilst also carrying out their other duties. We continue to work alongside emergency services and the Community Protection Team to help keep the park safe.

Thank you for helping us keep Colwick Country Park safe for everyone.