A NEW trust has been set up to manage one of the North East’s prime rural areas, it was announced yesterday.

The Kielder Partnership has officially become a registered charity and company limited by guarantee, known as Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust (KWFPDT).

The new body aims to open up access to additional funds to further develop the popular attraction in Northumberland.

It succeeds Kielder Partnership which brought together bodies from the public, private and voluntary sectors.

The main objectives of the new charity include sustainable development for public benefit, developing leisure activities in the interests of social welfare, involving the public in the natural environment and promoting the creation of works of art.

Trust director Elisabeth Rowark said last night: “Kielder Partnership worked hard to benefit the community from developments at the park and over the last four years delivered significant capital investment.”

She said major successes in this time have included:

l An art and architecture programme including the award-winning Kielder Observatory;

l A rolling events and activities programme;

l The Lakeside Way – 26 mile trail encircling the shoreline of Kielder Water, plus mountain biking trails;

l The formation of a business forum group;

l and new affordable housing in Kielder Village.

Ms Rowark said: “There is now a formal legal status for the organisation.

“Going forward this means the charity can add to the existing excellent work carried out by the partnership and work directly with funders, service providers and organisations to continue benefiting the local community. At a time of economic uncertainty and change, KWFPDT is now an organisation that can seek sustainability and continue to deliver social, economic and environmental regeneration in a rural community.”

Future plans for the are a mapped out in a 25-year investment plan, which has a range of economic, environmental and social sustainable objectives.

The next actions of the plan are to seek investment for improved facilities, activities and visitor centres.