In March the Ruby Country Partnership acquired the Cookbury Forest Centre (situated on the A3079 between Dunsland Cross and Halwill Junction) on a three year lease from the Forestry Commission and chose last Thursday for the official launch of their splendid new premises in an idyllic forest setting.

Set up in 2001 to promote trade and tourism in the 35 parishes around Holsworthy and Hatherleigh, Ruby Country was originally supported by grants from local stakeholders to fund a small team, promotional campaigns and events. This funding ended in April 2009, so a new, not-for-profit organization, The Ruby Country Partnership, was formed to take the project forward.

Throughout the day a steady stream of visitors came to inspect the range of facilities, meet the team of volunteers and find out their plans for the future. Apart from the Ruby Country's own office which will be the hub of its activities, and a display area, all the facilities are for members of the partnership to hire. These include a large meeting room with internet connection, a smaller meeting room and four office spaces.

From May 1, two of these will have a tenant, Freebird Media, a local firm which offers high quality design, printing, internet, marketing and promotional services. Displays in one room reminded visitors that the building was also the home of Forest Enterprise and the Devon Wildlife Trust and in another, water activities of the South West Lakes Trust were promoted.

Ruby Country Director Richard Reid said: "They would soon be appointing a part time coordinator to market Ruby Country. A new promotional leaflet had just been published and they would soon be publishing a map with extra trails to complement the Ruby Trails leaflets.

From 6pm the open day became a networking evening offering local business people the opportunity to make new contacts, to find out about the benefits of becoming a member of the partnership and how it could help them promote their businesses.