MEP GILES Chichester is to be briefed on the work of South West Lakes Trust at a meeting in Tavistock tomorrow (Friday)

The trust, the South West region's largest combined environmental and recreational charity, is responsible for developing sustainable leisure and conservation programmes for 50 inland water sites throughout Devon, Cornwall and West Somerset. Annually, they attract in the region of two million visitors.

Over the past decade, the trust has successfully completed numerous environmental, conservation and leisure projects in partnership with local and national organisations, including the Forestry Commission, County Sports Partnership and South West Tourism, as well as local community groups particularly concerned with the environment and wildlife protection.

The importance of this work has been recognised through the presentation to the Trust of the Queen's Award for Enterprise, the Green Tourism Gold Award and the first Sustainable Development Award for Cornwall.

Mr Chichester, who is the MEP for the South West and Gibralter, will meet trust director Evelyn Stacey at the Bedford Hotel.