Devon students team up with the Environment Agency to build otter habitat

Students at Kingsley School in Bideford have joined forces with the Environment Agency to build a new otter habitat on their school grounds.

The project at Kenwith Valley reservoir used recycled timbers from local flood defence works and saw the young people team up with EA biodiversity specialists and its construction company Kier to work on an otter holt.

During the hands-on session, the students took part in an interactive discussion with the local biodiversity officer before working in teams to construct the holt using logs and natural materials.

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Above: Kingsley School students helping to build the otter habitat alongside the EA and KIER team. Credit: EA

Jack Harty, director of environmental and sustainable studies at Kingsley School, said: “This project has provided our students with an incredible opportunity to learn about local wildlife conservation while developing teamwork skills.

“The children were completely engaged throughout the day and now feel a real sense of ownership over this habitat they've created on our school grounds.

“We're particularly excited about setting up a trail camera nearby so students can monitor otter activity in the coming months. This kind of practical conservation experience brings classroom learning to life in ways textbooks simply cannot match.”

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Sarah Guest, EA biodiversity officer, added: “It was a great opportunity to work with colleagues from the wider organisation and build relations with the community we’re working in – all towards the common goal of nature recovery.”

The school will include ongoing monitoring of the otter habitat as part of its science curriculum, with students regularly reviewing trail camera footage during their ecosystem studies.

The initiative forms part of environmental education programmes delivered through the Environment Agency's South West region.