THE £1.4 million Lakeside Visitors? Centre and Function Suite at Roadford Lake is now open to the public and businesses following a successful week of activities. Focusing on the heritage of the Wolf Valley, before the lake was constructed in 1990, the exciting interactive displays in the visitor centre show how life was lived in the past and the lake?s environmental values today. Also included in the centre, designed by John Hart Design, is a short film and oral history narration by people who actually lived in the valley. Beside the visitor centre is the Lakeside Function Suite overlooking Roadford Lake, managed by the South West Lakes Trust charity. The modern and well equipped centre is available for weddings and receptions, conferences and meetings. The new function suite offers modern, multifunctional facilities, giving the local community a much needed focal point and the fully equipped resource centre provides information technology available to all both informal use and for training. The Trust?s project manager, James Platts, said:?This is an exciting time for everyone involved with South West Lakes Trust. ?Lakeside? will be a demonstration of a partnership between our staff, supporters and funders, the community and volunteers to make conservation and leisure work together for everyone?s benefit.? To celebrate its opening, last Tuesday South Petherwin Junior School enjoyed an education day at the lake with Jo Simpson, heritage education officer for South West Lakes Trust. Activities included a quiz based on the new visitors centre and digging for pottery as part of an archaeology activity. The new centre at Roadford Lake, between Launceston and Okehampton, was supported and funded by Government Office South West, The South West Regional Development Agency, Heritage Lottery Fund, South West Forest, South West Water, Pennon Environmental Fund, West Devon Borough Council, Torridge District Council, Broadwoodwidger Parish Council and Exeter Archaeology. The visitor centre is currently open daily from 11am to 5pm and the function suite is now taking bookings. For further details please call James Platts or Lisa Tame on 01566 771930.
