A BRAND new café and visitor centre is welcoming guests at the recently refurbished Old Pumphouse at Lopwell.

Lopwell Dam is situated on the upper tidal mark of the River Tavy, and is an excellent site for bird watching, walking and seal spotting.

The dam is a designated Local Nature Reserve covering an area of approximately five hectares. The area consists of several different habitats, including mud flats, freshwater marsh, wildflower meadow, scrub-grassland, salt-marsh and semi-natural woodland. The area is also designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The café serves light lunches, snacks and refreshments daily from 10.30am to 4pm.

The refurbishment was funded by the Rural Development Programme for England and has been a great success giving locals and tourists the opportunity to learn more about this part of the Tamar Valley.