AN interactive new website for one of Devon?s Local Nature Reserves managed by South West Lakes Trust was launched last week by West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox at Roadford Lake. Lopwell Dam near Plymouth was designated as a Local Nature Reserve in October 2004 and is supported by English Nature, South West Lakes Trust, West Devon Borough Council, South West Water and Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to protect one of the most unusual sites for wildlife in the county. In fact there is nowhere in the UK quite like Lopwell Dam due to its unique array of habitats including salt marsh, freshwater marsh, semi improved grassland and estuarine. The new website is live and can be found at http://www.lopwell.com">www.lopwell.com The site is designed to inform visitors of Lopwell?s unique habitats, events, news and sightings. It also has an added feature for schools, with downloadable educational programmes linked with Key Stages of the National Curriculum. Visitors to the site will also find that they are able to view and download a Lopwell Walk leaflet which is in full colour and acts as an informative guide to the Local Nature Reserve. Cairns Boston, chairman of the board of trustees said: ?In today?s ever increasingly hectic lifestyles I firmly believe that we need places like Lopwell Dam to help keep us sane at times. This new website will help people to enjoy and understand the uniqueness of the site for many years to come.?
