An edition of the Tyne Tees Television series on the wildlife of the north presented by Andrew Friend. In the first report a look at the work of Andrew Hooton from the Northumberland Wildlife Trust who is studying how improvements in water quality in the counties rivers and streams have contributed to the return of otters to the region and what can be done to help them further. Next, a report on the Durham Bird Group who are conducting a research project on the River Derwent near Gateshead...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television series on the wildlife of the north presented by Andrew Friend. In the first report a look at the work of Andrew Hooton from the Northumberland Wildlife Trust who is studying how improvements in water quality in the counties rivers and streams have contributed to the return of otters to the region and what can be done to help them further. Next, a report on the Durham Bird Group who are conducting a research project on the River Derwent near Gateshead into Dippers. After the break, a visit to a river in north Northumberland where Vicky Armitage from Newcastle University is carrying out a 3-year study into the White-clawed crayfish, the only crayfish native to Great Britain. Next a report on the work being done by Richard Cansdale of Hartburn in Northumberland to help the local toad population reach their spawning grounds safely. Finally, on the River Derwent in Northumberland we meet Zoology student Helen Thompson who is working for Northumberland Wildlife Trust as part of a nationwide survey to learn more about the elusive European water vole. Title: Wild North Andrew Friend introduces the programme, which features birds and animals which live near or in water. The first part of the programme looks at the resurgence in the numbers of otter in the region. Andrew Hooton knows the rivers and streams of Northumberland well. He is running a project, under the auspices of the Northumberland wildlife trust, to study the otter. The film shows an otter in its natural habitat in and out of a river. Andrew says in the 1950s use of a certain agricultural pesticide affected otter numbers countrywide. Being elusive animals, Andrew and colleagues will look for characteristic tracks and other signs that signifies an otter’s presence on a river. Work done so far suggests otter numbers are increasing which is important as they were once virtually extinct in Northumberland. Andrew and volunteers also dig into riverbanks to construct shelters or holts for otters. However, road casualties are also increasing, and while the population is buoyant, current otter deaths on roads are a cause for concern. Andrew asks for the public to be vigilant and phone in any sightings of otters which have been killed on the road, or even crossing a road which suggest a potential hazard point for otters. Andrew finishes the presentation by making a cautiously optimistic prediction for the otters’ resurgence in Northumberland. In County Durham pollution in rivers and streams may be killing off the favourite food of the Dipper. Members of the Durham Bird Group carry equipment to the river Derwent near Gateshead to do part of a research project. They are using mist nets to catch dippers which live and feed near fast flowing water. Steven Westerberg of Durham Bird Group explains that they are going to catch, measure and ring birds so that in future individuals can be identified and survival numbers can be calculated. Steven says the dipper is declining country wide probably due to the acidification of water courses, due to upland regions being planted with conifer trees. The insects that live on the riverbed that dippers feed on are sensitive to this and are dying out. On the Derwent however Steve explains that dippers can be found virtually on the whole length of the river. Steve rings a bird which has been captured in the nets. Vicky Armitage a scientist at Newcastle University’s research centre for land use and water resources, is doing a three-year study into crayfish which live in the shallow waters of the upper reaches of Northumberland rivers. The species native to Britain is the white-clawed crayfish, and lives in unpolluted streams and rivers. She measures and examines crayfish then returns them to the river. Her research will reveal crayfish numbers and health. However, numbers of native crayfish are threatened by American signal crayfish which, along with pollution has created a countrywide decline in the white clawed crayfish. Another threat to crayfish is wild mink, introduced in this country by escaping from fur farms. This is one of the investigations Vicky will be doing as part of her research. Water engineer Richard Cansdale is interested in toads, and he wants to help them as they approach the breeding season. He recounts a story of one evening coming across hundreds of toads crossing a local road. There were fatalities and this was a result of the toads trying to return to a nearby lake, their spawning ground, from fields and other places nearby. Richard was given some triangular road warning signs from the local wildlife trust and put them on the roads near his home in Hartburn Northumberland. On nights when the toads are crossing the roads Richard, using a torch and bucket, collects the toads to make sure they have safe crossing to the lake. A national survey is being undertaken in part by third year Newcastle University zoology student Helen Thompson. She has been spending time on the banks of the river Derwent in Northumberland looking for signs of water voles, under the auspices of Northumberland Wildlife Trust as part of the national survey. The aim is to find out more about this rare creature as numbers have been falling since the beginning of the 20th century. Helen is looking for tell-tale signs of water vole activity on the riverside. For Lisa Kerslake conservation manager for Northumberland Wildlife trust setting up the survey has been a matter of urgency. She says that the voles are rare and threatened when once they were very common. In recent years habitat loss through destruction such as drainage of wetlands and the increased population of a predator, American mink has seriously affected vole numbers. Helen will be working on the survey throughout the summer, which will then be submitted to the national survey. The results of which will show distribution of the water vole in Northumberland leading to a conservation strategy. Credits: Presenter Andrew Friend Camera Simon Crouch, Lee Sutterby Sound Postproduction Andy Ludbrook Editor David Hindmarsh Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth Producer Charles Bowden CBTV production for Tyne Tees Television © Tyne Tees Television MCMXCVIII