Wildlife Matters

Monitoring otters. Recovering water voles. Protecting what remains.

Wildlife Guardians is our species recovery programme, running across 37 priority catchments. We monitor otter populations, reintroduce water voles to suitable sites, create kingfisher nesting banks, and manage ark sites for the critically threatened white-clawed crayfish. Since 2010, otter activity in our priority catchments has increased by 42%.

The species we work with

We focus on species that are indicators of river health rather than charismatic megafauna for their own sake. When otters return to a stretch, it signals that fish populations are recovering, that habitats are stable, and that pollution pressure has reduced. Species recovery is a consequence of good habitat work — not a separate mission.

Four species, four approaches

Otter (Lutra lutra)

Our flagship species and the most reliable indicator of river health we have. We run structured otter surveys at 127 sites annually, tracking spraints, holts, and camera-trap activity. We also create artificial holts in key corridors.

Water vole (Arvicola amphibius)

One of Britain's most rapidly declining mammals. We have completed four reintroductions at carefully selected sites following habitat preparation and mink control. All four populations are currently self-sustaining.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Kingfishers require vertical earth banks for nesting. We create artificial nesting banks where natural sites have been eroded or developed. Nesting success is monitored by our species volunteers.

White-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes)

Critically threatened by invasive signal crayfish. We manage one ark site where a protected white-clawed population is maintained free from competition, with the long-term aim of future reintroductions.

What our species monitors say

Volunteers who survey our rivers for wildlife, every month.

I do otter surveys on the Lugg every six weeks. You walk the bank looking for spraints and signs of holts. It takes three hours. I have seen an otter once in four years of surveys, and that was enough.

Tom FieldingOtter survey volunteer, Herefordshire

We prepared a water vole reintroduction site for two years before the animals arrived. The habitat work, the mink trapping, the vegetation surveys. When the first population count came in showing 40 individuals, that was the result of two years of work by about 30 people.

Dr Rachel StoreyWildlife Guardians programme coordinator

Kingfisher monitoring is the most meditative thing I have ever done. You sit. You wait. You record. And sometimes — not always — you see one.

Preethi KumarSpecies monitor volunteer, Yorkshire

Volunteer as a species monitor

No experience needed — just patience and good observation.

Wildlife Images

Connect with Wildlife Guardians

We’d love to hear from you. If you want to learn more about the Wildlife Guardians programme or find out how you can help restore our rivers and support wildlife, please reach out using the form below.

Whether you’re interested in volunteering, making a donation, or learning about our educational initiatives in schools, your involvement makes a difference.

You can also connect with us on social media for updates and information on our latest projects.