Working in conjunction with national conservation charity BTCV, staff and students from the university spent two days building a new otter holt at the Boughton Heath attraction as part of CSV's Make A Difference Day, the biggest programme of events for hands-on volunteering in the UK.

The work, which took about 12 hours to complete, has provided a much-needed home to the otters living in the valley.

The ideal place for otters to raise a family is under the roots of old river bank trees, but human activity has tidied these away to improve the flow of rivers and reduce the risk of floods.

Claire Britton, the university's volunteer co-ordinator, said: "We were delighted to celebrate this year's Make a Difference Day by linking up with the conservation charity BTCV to build an otter holt.

"The aim was to give students a taste of volunteering while also making a difference to the local environment, and we were very pleased with the response.

"This event builds on the work we carried out recently to help with the conservation of the mining bee and Natterjack toad, and we're sure that the students involved will continue to make a positive impact though their volunteering."

The volunteers all received a 'V thank you certificate' by signing up to the national V Volunteer Scheme.

The university's vinvolved team is supported by funding from v, the youth volunteering charity, as part of v's £75 million National Youth Volunteering Programme, which aims to inspire 500,000 young people aged 16 to 25 to get positively involved.

Established in 1959, BTCV has a successful history of environmental
conservation volunteering throughout the UK and all over the world.

CSV's Make a Difference Day is the UK's biggest series of hands-on volunteering events, highlighting the amazing impact volunteers can have in their local community.

Mike O'Kell, Chester City Council's countryside canager, said: "Working with students from the University of Chester has made a real difference.

"Their hard work has helped to create a new opportunity for bio-diversity around the River Dee.

"It was a great team effort, braving some very bad weather to help
improve their local environment."