BOTANIST and broadcaster Dr David Bellamy has never minded getting wet in the cause of conservation.

He did not think twice yesterday before plunging in with both feet to launch a major wetland project at one of his favourite nature reserves.

As president of the Durham Wildlife Trust, Dr Bellamy opened the Wild Wetlands scheme at Low Barns, near Witton-le-Wear, County Durham.

The trust, supported by a task force of volunteers, has created marshland, reed beds and seasonally wet grassland next to West Lake.

Human visitors are enjoying new woodland tracks, bird hides and a boardwalk through the reedbeds.

Otters are settling in on the site, where there are also nesting opportunities for sand martins and the rare bittern.

Dr Bellamy also reopened the visitor centre at Low Barns, where there are displays on wetland ecology and educational materials.

A new classroom and refurbished conference room will help to expand the trust's environmental education programme.

"Forty years ago, the land at Low Barns was a Tarmac quarry, the first to be turned into a nature reserve. Now there are hundreds across the country," said Dr Bellamy.

"This is probably the most biodiverse piece of wetland in County Durham. It is natural history at its best."

The wetland is part of the Mineral Valleys Project led by English Nature. The Heritage Lottery Fund gave £188,600 while Northumbrian Water contributed £140,000 and the land. Another £94,000 came from Defra's Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund and £46,200 from the County Durham Environmental Trust.

Richard Wood, the trust's chief executive, said: "The developments at Low Barns will dramatically enhance the visitor experience, making the site one of the best tourist attractions in the area.

"The new habitats enhance the support for a variety of species and we have already seen evidence of the expansion of the otter populations."