Tales of the River Bank

Work has begun on a drive to make a wildlife haven in The National Forest into a "service station" for one of our bestloved wild animals, the otter.

The rivers Trent, Mease and Tame all meet at the site at Croxall, near Lichfield, making it a key intersection for otters on the move.

A recent survey at Croxall by Nick Mott (pictured), the Severn Trent Water/Wildlife Trusts, Otters and Rivers Project Officer for the upper Trent, has shown that otters do drop in and suggests that the site could play a key role in encouraging their return across the Midlands.

The former sand and gravel workings were bought by the NFC in 2000 with help from Severn Trent Water. Its development as a wildlife haven is being supported by Staffordshire Environmental Fund.

Nick said: "Otters are gradually returning to many of their former haunts along the Trent and its tributaries. Our job is to attempt to speed up re-colonisation by improving riverside habitats."

There are now plans to enhance habitat at Croxall for otters. Ideas being considered include building artificial shelters and creating shallow areas of water - a boon for otters and other wildlife, such as kingfishers and dragonflies.