Across the House Lake

THE OTTERHEAD ESTATE TRUST

The Estate Trust is a not-for-profit limited company set up to lease, conserve and part restore the built heritage and designed landscape that formed the heart of the Victorian Otterhead Estate, owned by Wessex Water.

The work of Somerset Wildlife Trust is being continued at this recently designated Local Nature Reserve and the Estate Trust seeks to involve local residents, groups and communities as well as others within the Estate's much wider catchment area. The aims of the Estate Trust are supported by the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; Somerset County Council; Taunton Deane Borough Council; Somerset Wildlife Trust and Somerset Gardens Trust.

The Estate provides opportunities for quiet leisure pursuits such as walking. It is also considered to be a potential education resource for studying aspects of the social, economic, horticultural and natural history of the Blackdown Hills, as much of the Estate's infrastructure still survives though often hidden.

Community involvement includes development of this website, formation of a Friends Group and providing, with Taunton Deane Borough Council, two information leaflets (see News on this website).