OTTERS have had a bad press in recent years. Fishermen accuse them of eating all the fish and some farmers are far from friendly.

Now, one man has taken on the job of putting a positive spin on the maligned creature and the work of a trust dedicated to improving their lot.

Mr Stuart Priestley has recently been appointed as the Durham and Tees Valley wildlife trust otters and rivers project officer.

Quite a mouthful, but Mr Priestley explained all he and the trust were trying to do was to promote good habitat management.

He spoke to the D&S Times about the success of the project, both nationally and at Low Barns nature reserve at Witton le Wear where he is based.

It is now in its second year and its aim is dedicated to improving the status of the otter in Britain.

He knew several farmers were hostile towards otters but one popular misconception about the trust was that it released otters into a created habitat.

"They will return perfectly naturally to a pollution-free river," said Mr Priestley. "There is no point in us just introducing them because they will immediately leave if the conditions are not right for them."

Support had so far been amply demonstrated, with many landowners allowing access for survey work and others agreeing to wetland habitat improvements.

But the trust was always keen for more involvement.

There were three major things which farmers or landowners could do to help the project: allow access to do core surveys; allow artificial holts (resting-breeding sites) on their land or allow some form of habitat creation or enhancement such as letting tall bankside vegetation develop, planting scrub and trees along riverbanks and creating ponds.

Farmers were essential in developing wetland habitats to provide the cover otters required for resting places and breeding sites.

There were so many grant schemes available to help, it was mainly a case of making farmers aware of them. In addition, the project had material and manpower available to build artificial holts.

There were sometimes complaints from fishermen, who felt fish stocks were a major food source for otters. But Mr Priestley felt that could be worked around.

"The same management that works for otters works for fish," he stated. Otters were an indication of a clean river. Bankside vegetation would add to fish stocks as well as otter stocks.

The otters were never going to eat all the fish because as they were a top predator they would only be found in low densities.

On an 8km stretch of riverbank you would find only two or three otters which would take out weak or sick fish. "But I suppose anglers would disagree," said Mr Priestley. "It all depends on your point of view. But in general the two go hand in hand."

On a tour of the reserve, he pointed out an island in the middle of the Wear. Islands were good for otters as they did not like disturbance, which could have a major effect on them leaving an area.

Habitat enhancement for otters meant the catchment areas were cleaner and healthier, which in turn encouraged a range of wildlife such as bats, barn owls, small mammals and raptors which they had at Low Barns.

Figures from last year's otter survey on the Wear showed that from a population of zero in 1993, otters were now present at 40pc of survey sites on the river. That was mainly due to the work of the trust. The project aimed to have otters established in all the region's rivers by 2010.

Mr Priestley said otters used a variety of other wetland habitats, including ponds and ditches. They required tall vegetation to rest undisturbed. Sympathetic management of such wetlands not only provided the otter with places to feed, but dragonflies, water boatmen and mayflies bred in the open water of ditches and ponds and were ideal for frogs and newts.

Careful management of freshwater habitats would also benefit the water vole, a species declining at an alarming rate in the UK due to lack of suitable habitats and predation by American mink.

There was anecdotal evidence that the presence of otters reduced mink activity along rivers and streams.

Mr Priestley said otters were nocturnal. Not much was known about the ecology of them because they were very hard to track and would not eat carrion or fish left out for them.

Although newly arrived at Low Barns, he sees part of his role as continuing the survey and increasing its ratio. He will also try to expand the survey to make it more spatial in terms of data.

He also hopes to persuade landowners to do a lot more work. There was a need to expand wetlands in general. His aim was to have interesting wetlands and streams and to look at creating small ponds in the middle of fields. "I just want to expand the remit a bit," he added.

"If you promote otters the knock-on effect for the rest of wildlife is enormous," he went on. "They are an intrinsic part of the countryside. The more series we have within the eco system the more benefits there are."

Project officers like Mr Priestley are available to provide management advice in relation to wetlands and wildlife, create holts and answer any of the public's questions.

If members of the public have seen otters recently or would be interested in monitoring their progress, he would like to hear from them on 01388 488728.

Financial support for the project is assured, with funding provided by Northumbrian Water, Fina, the Environment Agency and the Northumbrian Water environmental trust.

Further information about grants available for work to improve habitats for otters is available from the Northumberland wildlife trust on 0191 284 6884.

Entry to Low Barns is free. For winter opening times, call 01388 488728