Otters given a helping hand

Otters are being encouraged to set up home at a Staffordshire nature reserve thanks to the efforts of young conservationists.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's youth volunteer group SWIG (Staffordshire Wildlife Interest Group) has created a new home – known as a "holt" – for the shy creatures on Doxey Marshes.

Otters have lived on the site in Stafford for about 10 years and have used artificial holts built by volunteers.

SWIG stepped in to help after Doxey Marshes project officer Rachel Wheatcroft discovered that some of the older, wooden holts were deteriorating and needed replacing. She said: "Otters were formerly widespread throughout the UK but suffered a rapid decline between the 1950s and 1970s.

"They were effectively lost from the Midland counties by the 1980s due to river pollution, otter hunting and the gradual 'tidying up' of rivers which removed their habitat. Now, due to falling pollution levels in our watercourses, otters have begun to return to places where they used to thrive, such as Doxey Marshes, which is great news.

"The trust wants to do everything it can to further this trend, and building holts is a good way to encourage otters onto the site."

Alison said the SWIG group had done a "fantastic" job. "Members dug a bed into the riverbank and created a dense, woven structure over the top to recreate the otters' natural choice of shelter – tree roots," she said.

"The mass of willow will grow into small trees, which will then mature into exactly the right kind of structure the otter prefers. The area was fenced off to stop summer cattle getting near to the holt and allow it to become overgrown, which is the ideal riverside habitat for otters."

More information about the SWIG group, which is open to 14 to 21-year-olds, is available from Rachel on 01889 880100 or by emailing r.wheatcroft@ staffs-wildlife.org.uk

The scheme is the latest in Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's programme of conservation work to help protected species. It recently created a "subway" to help otters cross a road near Shugborough. Fencing was also put up to guide them into the tunnel, allowing them to go safely from Cannock Chase to a pool on the other side of the road.