Sussex Otters & Rivers Partnership
Otters and water voles are endangered species which South East Water is working to protect in conjunction with the South East Sussex Otters & Rivers Partnership (SORP).
SORP was set up in 2000 with South East Water, the Sussex Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency and the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit to try and encourage otters to return to Sussex.
Otters were widespread in Britain in the 1950s but their numbers declined rapidly from the 1960s and by the 1970s they were considered extinct in Sussex and most of the UK. The decline was caused by pesticides and sheep dip pollution, compounded by the fragmentation of their habitats and disturbance by humans and dogs.
The partnership works with landowners and organisations to help create and restore wetland habitats and build artificial otter holts.
SORP also works to protect water voles, which are currently the most endangered mammal in Britain, with only 4.5% of surveyed sites showing signs of habitation. They have also been affected by fragmented habitation, vulnerability to predators such as mink, accidental death through rat poison and hunting by dogs and cats.
In addition, the partnership also works to protect Black Poplar trees, which are an endangered species with under 34 mature trees remaining in Sussex. Few of the slow growing trees have been planted since the mid 19th century and those remaining are threatened by the draining of wetlands.
To find out more about the Sussex Otters & River Partnership, visit the website.