AN entire year's programme of activities has been set up by South West Lakes Trust in and around South West Water's lakes and reservoirs.

The activities, which involve recreation, conservation and education, include scrub clearing, bird and bat surveys, musical and sports events.

The charity, which controls access to SWW's sites, was set up by SWW last year and is completely independent of the water giant.

'We lease the sites off SWW on a sixty-year lease,' said Toni Furse, speaking for the trust. 'We manage the lakes — all the decisions are down to our board of trustees and are not influenced by SWW at all.'

She said there were two classes of trustees: class A trustees have no connection whatsoever with the Pennon Group — SWW's parent company— while class B trustees may be connected with Pennon plc.

'However, the trust's constitution ensures that class A trustees must always our number class B trustees by 2-1, with the chairman being a class A trustee and also having the casting vote,' she said.

'The trust sees a great benefit in inviting a director of South West Water — our landlord — to be a trustee as this ensures continuing interest in the trust's work at a high level.'

Ms Furse added that the Charity Commissioners would not permit circumstances to occur in which SWW could control activities of the Trust.

The current chairman is James Cairns Boston. He is also chairman of South West Tourism and life president of Cornwall Association of Tourist Attractions.

Other board members are: Peter Bartlett, a former farmer and fisherman and currently chairman of the Royal Yachting Association for the South West region; Keith Bungay, a local government planning officer for 40 years, he retired as Exmoor National Park Officer in 1999, and Roger Preston, who is product supply and logistics director for china clay company IMERYS.

From SWW are Peter Briens, the company's customer services director with responsibility for commercial development and other activities as well as public relations and; David Robertson, finance director of Viridor Ltd, a subsidiary of Pennon Group Plc.

The next event is today (Thursday) at Burrator where training in the construction of bird boxes is on offer. They are due to be erected at Burrator and Tavistock on Saturday.

For more information contact Stuart Ross 01822 890310.