Exciting plans to introduce new activities at five inland lakes in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset have been announced this week by the South West Lakes Trust.
The projects include wildlife trips on an electrically-powered boat at Roadford Lake, a cableski, climbing activities and introductory off-road cycle routes at other lakeside locations.
The ambitious plans have been made possible by a £2.2 million grant from the Sustainable Rural Tourism fund of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).
Under the scheme – called Outdoor + Active – activities will range from low-impact sports like walking or bird watching through to water-based activities and climbing.
The five lakes involved are:
o Stithians – new on-land and water activities – including a paddle beach- and improved refreshment and reception
o Siblyback – new on and off-water activities, new showers and changing rooms, introductory off-road cycle route
o Roadford – new on and off-water activities, new changing rooms, event-boat parking, electrically-powered ferry/wildlife boat trips, introductory off-road cycle route
o Lopwell – environmental education and visitor interaction with wildlife and venue for volunteer tourism, and
o Wimbleball – new on and off-water activities, new changing rooms, boat parking for events, winter training camps, introductory off-road cycle routes
Refreshments will be available at each site and, where possible, equipment, raw materials and products for sale will be sourced locally to accentuate regional distinctiveness and to promote the ‘green agenda.
Work will take place during the year with the first projects due to open in late spring and the final one in November.
South West Lakes Trust is leading the Outdoor +Active scheme, which is linked to the Environment Agency’s Enjoy Water Strategy for water-based recreation in the South West.
Cairns Boston Chair of Trustees for South West Lakes Trust said “We are really excited by the opportunity the funding partners have given us, we are keen to improve the dry land activities at our sites to benefit all our visitors giving something for the whole family to do, whether it is walking, climbing, boating or just relaxing and enjoying the view! It is especially important to us as 2010 is our 10th birthday and I look forward to sharing our success with everyone at our “Go lakeside” birthday celebrations, throughout this year”
The Sustainable Rural Tourism fund, managed by the South West RDA, is supporting a suite of £ multi-million interlinked investments that are designed to have a lasting impact on tourism in rural areas through investing in improved access to, and understanding of, the key features and rural heritage of the South West.
Rob Hatt, head of rural development at the RDA said: “Outdoor + Active is part of a larger investment being co-ordinated by the Environment Agency, and as well as opening up new opportunities for people to enjoy the natural environment, it will also offer new opportunities for businesses close to the hubs. We would encourage farms, tourism and food businesses located near these venues to make contact with SWLT and register their interest in exploring the opportunities. ”
Richard Cresswell, regional director of the Environment Agency said “As part of our south west ‘Enjoy water Strategy’, Outdoor + Active is the first of four projects that will see an increase in the use of our inland lakes and rivers for recreational and leisure activities ranging from nature watching and walking through to active sports like canoeing and windsurfing, this in turn will help ease the pressures on other overstretched sensitive areas”
Information about the plans and contact details can be found at http://www.swlakestrust.org.uk.
Link – http://www.activeexmoor.com/site/rivers-and-lakes/wimbleball-lake
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