artificial otter holt design

The 28 brush bundles that were constructed were placed with this in mind; to enhance awareness of the project and its aims along with providing potential resting sites for otters in the area. A simple artificial holt can be made using log piles. WATER COURSES FOR WATER VOLE Creating new water vole habitat can be expensive, and is notoriously time consuming. Breezeblocks or unmortared bricks and paving stones can be used for the walls and roof of the chamber, and wood is a suitable alternative, providing the site is on dry soil. Diverse Internet. Web design by Yu Sheng & Yu Siang. Legal protection for otters Otters are classed as European Protected Species (EPS) under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended). In the wild otters will use piles of various sizes from structures as large as 40m long, 10m wide and 4m high to small features of 5m x 3m x 4m. Model Number: OTTERHOLTFP. The holt has both a front and rear entrance hole and an internal chamber 600mm x 600mm. Apr 12, 2016 - Sunrise: 06.35 Sunset: 06.04 Mike Averill and I started a new otter holt project yesterday afternoon, at the junction of Hoo Brook and the River Stour. Site Design & Development: Cowell et al. The holt should be built as close to the river as possible, with a pipe entrance leading to the water’s edge if necessary, and where there will be little human disturbance. It is therefore an offence to deliberately or recklessly: - kill, injure, capture or harass an otter; - disturb an otter whilst it is occupying a structure/holt (underground den) or other One of the best things about a project like Gatwick Greenspace is being able to work in such a large project area with enthusiastic volunteers. Provision of an artificial replacement holt is proposed to offset the loss of the natural holt and provide otters with long-term alternative accommodation at the site. Found: 2 result(s) matching your search criteria (0.1297 seconds) Sort By: Price Price Name Name . Otters (or least an otter), have taken up residence in an artificial holt built close to the Coalisland Canal. While this may appear small, research has confirmed that female otters prefer a confined space in which to rear their young. Unlike the palatial otter stately home we bui… Licensed activity in this situation Artificial holts must have two or three entrances below, at or above water level. This will give us an indication as to whether the holt is being used by otter. The long stretch of scrub (Site 4) is too tall and ‘leggy’ to provide suitable resting cover for otters, but could be improved by coppicing & installation of an artificial holt. This intervention may involve constructing or installing artificial holts to provide shelter for otters along waterways. The proposed road is close to … Chanin (2013) stated that artificial otter holts are more suited to raising awareness among landowners than providing resting places for otters. The European otter has been here for millions of years; it is a member of the Mustelid family, which also includes the badger, mink, weasels, stoats, martens and polecats, and is the only truly semi-aquatic member of the weasel family. The site has been chosen by the RSPB as a Nature After Minerals case study site, and is in the process of restoration. It is an offence to kill, injure or knowingly disturb an otter, damage or obstruct an otter holt. Currently there are 0 item(s) in the Basket. It is a large member of the weasel family. otter holts were historically seen as a useful management tool, modern advice seeks to improve wider habitat attributes, and seek natural colonisation. It lives in a ‘holt’, often among the roots of a riverside tree. However, it is acknowledged that constructing artificial holts in appropriate locations remains an activity supported by … The site has been chosen by the RSPB as a Nature After Minerals case study site, and is in the process of restoration. We can advise on working methods and locations to minimise disturbance to otters. £275.40 inc VAT-+ Add to Basket. otter / Stephen Bray. This Otter Holt is made from recycled plastics, enhancing durability and environmental friendliness. Working in conjunction with Hanson Aggregates Ltd and the RSPB, BSG Ecology staff have created an otter holt at a gravel pit in Oxfordshire. Full details of the project are available below. Corrugated tin or polythene of bigger dimensions than the roof is often placed over the chamber to ensure that it keeps dry in the wettest weather. The majority of our Oxford team took half a day out of normal work hours in February 2013 in order to help build the holt. Branding. Flat Pack Otter Holt Kit Black 1200 x 830 x 380. Mayor of Broxtowe presented prize. The reduction of natural materials available for otter holt building in some areas has led to conservationists installing artificial otter holts on some sites. Some vegetation cover should be present surrounding the holt. They are built where there is minimal disturbance from humans and their dogs. Amendments introduced Artificial Otter Holts Whether as compensation for loss of habitat due to development works or as a wildlife enhancement measure, artificial otter holts provide added cover along river banks where other suitable habitat locations have been lost or are lacking. Provide otter holts. No above ground entrance should be too high above the water level, they should be about 20cm across, and flush with the bank. Working in conjunction with Hanson Aggregates Ltd and the RSPB, BSG Ecology staff have created an otter holt at a gravel pit in Oxfordshire. W e have experience in the design and delivery of mitigation projects across some of the most challenging sites in the UK. Any licence application will require a species protection plan with detailed mitigation proposals which may include measures such as the supervision of nearby works, the erection of exclusion fencing, and in some cases the construction of an artificial otter holt. Families are invited to help build an artificial otter holt which will then form part of Ruth Ewan's installation Back to the Fields. Exclusion zone to be made around the old footbridge area at the 54+North end of the site and the construction and maintenance of an artificial Otter Holt to be … Carefully sited and constructed artificial holts may encourage otters to recolonise and breed along stretches of waterways from which they are at present absent or re-locate otters where there is a threat as a consequence of development. We can provide you with a full range of otter related products and services, including otter surveys and artificial otter holts. The construction of artificial dens may serve a similar purpose and there is evidence that these are readily used by otters. However, it’s easy to confuse mink with otters so make sure you know the difference. The next step will be to plant blackthorn and/or willow saplings around the holt to conceal it and ensure there is minimum disturbance. The chamber roof is usually covered with soil. Logo competition to engage local schools. Otters can be found in all types of wetland habitats, including rivers, streams, marshes, ditches and lakes, as well as coastal areas and their large home ranges may incorporate a variety of habitat types. We also intend to deploy a motion activated infra-red camera as reported in April 2012 to monitor otter use. Materials used for their creation depend on what is available, the cost, riverside accessibility, etc. Otters and the law Otters are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Schedule 5. The ... destruction of an otter holt while being used for breeding. Artificial otter holt. If the destruction of an otter holt or potential otter holt is necessary, it must be carried out when the otters are not present. Volunteers installed. An artificial otter holt can be made in a variety of shapes and styles, using a range of materials from pre-fabricated recycled-plastic units, pallets, cut timber, to locally sourced logs and branches. 29 September 2011 | Posted in Community , Gatwick Greenspace , Volunteering Author Kevin Lerwill. Arbeco can competently construct artificial holts to enhance river banks for this European Protected Species. Wildlife hide with artificial sett for badgers This wildlife hide has direct views of bird feeders and a badger run, cameras in an artificial sett for watching badgers underground, a PTZ camera to follow badgers foraging above ground, cameras on peanut feeders and in nest boxes for close-up views of local birds, and wireless links to distant buzzard and barn owl nests. ... Otters were first recorded to be near one of the holts a year after the holt was built in December 2017. In the wild otters will use piles of various sizes from structures as large as 40m long, 10m wide and 4m high to small features of 5m x 3m x 4m. Materials: A simple artificial holt can be made using log piles. 4. Designed in conjunction with Surrey Wildlife Trust and featured on BBC Springwatch and Countryfile, this specific design is a safe, low cost and easy to install alternative to concrete artificial otter holts. Winning pupil from William Lilley Infant and Junior School in Stapleford. 54+64. Design the development and construction methods to avoid damage or disturbance to ... Construct artificial holts to replace any natural holts that have to be destroyed. Blackbridge Proposed New Road: Otter Surveys & Mitigation Report 3. The average otter is 1–1.3 metres in length, and weighs up to 9kg. As throughout much of Europe, the wildlife in and around the canal has suffered in the past through poor water quality. However, in latter years, improved water quality has seen a return of many aquatic species, including the otter. Arbeco  »  Habitat Services  »  Artificial Otter Holt Creation. The Otter (Lutra lutra) is a semi-aquatic mammal. Remove from Basket Added to Basket. How to build an otter holt. Wild Service meet all these criteria and more. Whether you simply require an assessment of a river or lake for potential impacts of development, assessment of a tree for potential otter issues, a full and detailed survey for otters, or advice on suitable mitigations, we can help you, anywhere in the UK. Large stones have been placed at the water’s edge near the entrance in the hope that otter will take the opportunity to use them as sprainting sites (spots where they mark their territory using faecal deposits). Oxfordshire Gravel Pit: Otter Survey and Enhancement Works, For more information about Nature After Minerals (an RSPB/Natural England partnership), please click on the following link: https://afterminerals.com/, Spatial Analysis and Mapping (GIS) Service, Greening and Urban Regeneration: vital for Wellbeing and Connection with Nature, Sharing Learning and Good Practice: Arup and BSG collaborate to Provide Staff Training, Sharing Good Practice: Implications of Wildlife Legislation for Development, Motion-activated Camera Footage of Bechstein’s Bat. Artificial holts should be located where there is little natural cover, since an otter will probably resting sites in preference to man made ones. We will learn how otters build their homes and collaborate to make one in the gallery from wood, branches and piping. Recycled plastic otter holt kit designed in conjunction with Surrey Wildlife Trust. A simple artificial holt can be made using log piles. Otters tend to deter mink. Arbeco can competently construct artificial holts to enhance river banks for this European Protected Species. The otter suffered a dramatic decline in numbers during the middle of the 20th Century, which was attributed to pollution and habitat loss. Three Shires has constructed artificial otter holts on many construction schemes, most recently installing 2 new holts for Staffordshire Alliance as part of their Norton Bridge project. Following conservation efforts and legislation including restrictions on certain chemical pesticides and fertilisers, populations of otters are now making a slow recovery throughout th… Rare otters using artificial shelter. Construction work will also result in the removal of an area of riparian habitat which will be replaced by new planting within the area. In the wild otters will use piles of various sizes from structures as large as 40m long, 10m wide and 4m high to small features of 5m x 3m x 4m. Artificial otter holts made from recycled plastic. Leaflet (pdf and hard copy) now available to showcase WLFA part 1. In order for it to be a success mitigation needs to be very well designed, implemented and maintained. This was a wooden structure which incorporated two internal chambers, two exits and which was subject to water-proofing using brash wood. These elusive and secretive animals can be found on coasts and estuaries and in fresh water habitats with suitable cover. Large logs should be used for the base, which will form a series of chambers, thinner logs can be used to roof the chambers and debris piled on top to make the structure waterproof. Part 1 the law otters are fully Protected under the Wildlife in and around the holt was in... S easy to confuse mink with otters so make sure you know the difference,! To enhance river banks for this European Protected Species a large member the... 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