Under the guidance of Richard Smith, South West Lakes Trust's Biodiversity Officer, volunteers, Robin Hellis, Guy Lovejoy and Fred Sobey helped to build an otter holt at Lower Tamar Lake, near Bude.
 

Funded by South West Water and South West Lakes Trust. the Biodiversity Project aims to encourage and nurture wildlife around the lakes, including the otter.
 

Britain's otter population began to plummet in the 1950s, mainly due to the pollution of our rivers and streams through chemicals, hunting and habitat destruction. Natural otter resting sites would be found under bank side tree roots, or in dense undergrowth adjacent to healthy rivers and particularly under mature ash and oak tree roots. In recent years many old bank side trees have been cleared and natural holt sites have become rare. Artificial otter holts provide resting places while natural otter habitats recover in the long term. Otters can live in most types of wetland including floodplain woodland, reed bed, rivers and fens.

In order to find a suitable location for the new holt sites were surveyed for evidence of otter activity. A suitable area was selected for artificial holt creation, near fresh water and food supplies, with trees such as oak and ash in the vicinity.

Where possible previously cleared materials were utilised, otherwise fallen trees were cut to size to use for construction. After removal of the turf from the holt site, logs were laid out to form the walls and internal chambers and kept in place using stakes (an entrance facing the water source was left and an entrance on the opposite side of the holt was created). Poles were laid across the top of the structure to form a roof, then turf and brash were piled on top of the poles to ensure the holt was waterproof and windproof. Extra brash was piled around the holt to provide insulation and hide the structure.

Richard and his team of dedicated volunteers were very satisfied with the results. Evidence shows that the Lake is used by otters and so the holt will be surveyed to see if any have taken up residence.... fingers crossed!

If you are interested in joining us as a volunteer in similar projects please contact us via our website www.swlakestrust.org.uk or by calling 01566 771930.