The trust that oversees the ongoing development of one of the North-East’s leading tourist destinations has introduced a new management structure following the retirement of its director.

Lynn Turner has handed leadership of the Kielder Water and Forest Park Development Trust over to a team seconded from organisations within the partnership after taking over the role in 2014.

New director, Graham Perry, who has been seconded part-time from his role as strategy and product development manager at Northumbrian Water, is joined by operations manager Paul Nichol, a full-time secondee from Northumberland County Council and recreation and events manager Alex MacLennan, seconded part-time from Forestry England.

The team continues to be supported by administration assistant Jane Anderson and building capacity project co-ordinator Hilary Norton, seconded from Northumbrian Water and Northumberland Wildlife Trust respectively. Peter Sharpe remains curator of the Kielder Art and Architecture programme.

Mr Perry said: “Lynn’s work as director of the Kielder Water and Forest Park Development Trust in recent years has seen the area continue to go from strength to strength as a destination, and even step into an exciting new digital age, which we look forward to seeing come to fruition in the coming months.

“The partners within the trust would like to thank Lynn for her leadership and commitment and wish her well in her retirement.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead and I know the rest of the team feel the same, and it’s great to have a number of the partners so actively involved in the new structure.”