Otters become unlikely stars of Newcastle wildlife calendar

For wildlife watchers, otters are one of the most elusive animals to spot.

So when two put in an appearance in the Ouseburn in Newcastle, local resident Will Howe was able to capture a picture from a vantage point near The Tyne bar at the mouth of the river.

Will is a freelance designer who lives in the Ouseburn Valley from where runs his business Will Howe Creative Ltd. His otter image is one of the pictures selected from a public competition for the Wild Ouseburn 2025 calendar, which is now available.

Otters are thought to use the Ouseburn as a river corridor from locations such as Jesmond Dene to reach the River Tyne. Another of Will’s pictures, of a deer he came across in the valley, featured in the 2024 calendar.

He said: “The Ouseburn is a good wildlife corridor and it great to have wildlife on my doorstep.”

Several of the 2025 images have a humorous edge, such as Getting Your Ducks in a Row – a file of ducks caught by Paul Danher and Pit Stop Pigeon by David Brown with the bird on a car bonnet with oil canisters in the background. John Hipikin made a garden snail the star of his picture titled Life Imitates Art, with the scene behind the creature an artwork panel featuring a cartoon snail.

All profits from calendar sales will go to the Ouseburn Trust, an independent charity, working towards a sustainable future for the Ouseburn Valley. The calendar is produced by Ouseburn Ancestors Publishing and designed by Paul Hagan of Northern Design Ltd.

Also included is a photograph of red damselflies by ecologist Mike Jeffries, who conducts annual surveys of butterflies in the Ouseburn Valley. He said: “When the Ouseburn Farm re-opened in 2006 it seemed like a good time to record butterflies, and 19 years later the butterfly surveys are still going strong, and now include the dragonflies and their smaller cousins the damselflies.”

Mike has completed his 2024 survey report, and says: “In recent years it felt like there were fewer butterflies around the valley which has prompted a longer review of the data from the last 19 years. Overall the results confirm the sneaking suspicion that numbers are on the wane”

As in 2023 12 species of butterfly were recorded in 2024, compared to 16 in 2022, 14 in 2020, 2019 and 2018 and 16 in 2017.

“But all is not lost. Barely over 50 years ago, when the Metro Bridge was built, all the meadows in the valley were a building site,” said Mike.

“Wildlife can bounce back if given the chance. We need to work out how to help the butterflies do just that.”

Calendars at £10 are available to purchase in-person at 51 Lime Street in the Ouseburn or can be requested by post via email: hello@ouseburntrust.org.uk

Calendars can also be bought from Northern Designs’ pop-up shop in 51 Lime Street during Ouseburn Open Studios event on Saturday and Sunday November 23 & 24.

A second calendar – Ouseburn Pubs, Bars & Taprooms – featuring 13 premises old and new is also on offer , with design and photography by Colin Hagan and words and research by Sue Bright.