UK Wildlife News Highlights: Stories and Photo Projects, Oct 2025
Some months the news lines up into a clear brief. October’s stories all circle one theme: care in practice. One charity needs help to keep rescuing otters. One valley has a new deal to protect wetlands while homes get built. One country has tightened biosecurity for birds as winter migration begins. None of these headlines are abstract. Each is rooted in a place you can stand and people you can speak to. Below are the three stories and the photographic projects they suggest, written for fieldcraft-first photographers.
UK Wild Otter Trust must relocate its rehab centre
The story
On 2 October the UK Wild Otter Trust (UKWOT) announced it must dismantle and move its specialist rehabilitation centre within six months while continuing to care for rescued cubs. The statement from CEO Dave Webb sets out the scale of the task and the need for donations to rebuild enclosures, pools and biosecurity infrastructure at a new North Devon site. The charity will try to keep rescue capacity open through the transition, which is no small ask for a small team and volunteers. Read the statement and fundraiser here: https://ukwildottertrust.org/2025/10/02/save-our-charity-statement-from-ceo-dave-webb/
Why it matters
Eurasian otters are strictly protected and sensitive to disturbance. Good rehab returns healthy animals to the rivers and estuaries that can support them. That work depends on facilities you rarely see in photographs: clean pools with flow, quiet pens, quarantine processes, and the daily routines that keep stress low. Even if you never set foot near a rehab pen, you can still tell this story well by photographing the habitat and the community that makes it possible.
Project: “River to Release”
Aim
Document the places an otter needs to thrive after rehab, plus the human effort that protects those places.
Where
Pick a single river or estuary you know. Look for quiet side channels, riffles that oxygenate water, root mats for cover, and backwaters that hold fish fry. If your coast is closer, work the tide edges at first light and after sunset.
Shot list
Habitat anchor
A dawn or dusk wide angle shot that breathes. Use 16–35 mm at f/8–f/11. Keep the horizon clean and include a fixed landmark so you can repeat the frame seasonally. A polariser helps with glare and shows the riverbed.Food and cover
Mid-tele details of overhanging roots, back-eddy seams, small fish breaking surface at dusk and banks where spraint rocks are common. Shoot at a respectful distance and never move stones to create a stage.Threats
Record litter traps under bridges, snagged line, or blocked culverts. Keep it factual, not accusatory. Pair each with a matching “after” if a local group cleans it up.People in the loop
Portraits of a rivers trust volunteer, a paddle club leading a river clean, or an angler keeper who reports sightings. Aim for honest, working portraits. 70–200 mm at f/4 isolates the person from clutter.Wild otter, if encountered
Only from distance with a long lens. Stay still and quiet. If behaviour changes, back off immediately. No torches, no playback, no baiting.
Fieldcraft and ethics
Work from public land unless you have permission. Keep dogs out of sensitive margins. If you plan to donate images, agree usage and credit in advance. Strong captions make this useful: explain how flow, cover and clean water tie directly to rehab success. Add the UKWOT link for readers who want to help.
Arun Valley wetlands protected as homes restart
The story
On 8 October the UK government, Natural England, the Environment Agency and Southern Water announced a deal that both safeguards the Arun Valley wetlands and unlocks around 21,000 delayed homes across North Sussex. The agreement limits abstraction from local rivers and wetlands, funds habitat restoration and raises water efficiency standards for new builds. It follows a four-year pause on developments because of pressure on designated sites and their wintering birds. The press release is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thousands-of-new-homes-get-the-go-ahead-in-north-sussex
Why it matters
Wetlands hold many threads at once: water levels, water quality, invertebrate life, fish nursery habitat and the seasonal needs of wildfowl and waders. The Arun Valley decision is a live example of how planning and ecology meet. It is not only a policy story. It is a landscape you can photograph as it changes through winter flows and spring drawdown.
Project: “Water Budget: A Valley in Pictures”
Aim
Show how water management decisions land on the ground. One reach, repeated through the season.
Where
Choose a public river footpath or reserve viewpoint in the Arun catchment or a comparable wetland near you if travel is not practical.
Shot list
Repeat frame: low vs. high water
Two matched tripod views, same focal length and height, one at low flow and one after rain. Polariser to cut glare and lift bed texture in the low frame. Consider a 3–6 stop ND for a 0.5–2 second exposure when you want to show gentle movement at the water’s edge.Wet meadow detail
Macro of sedges, rushes, cottongrass seed heads or dragonfly exuviae on reed stems. A 90–105 mm macro at f/8–f/16 handles depth without losing simplicity.Bird use
A long lens portrait of teal, snipe or black-tailed godwit using flooded meadows. Keep to viewpoints. No flushing for flight shots; let the birds decide the frame.People and process
With permission, a portrait of a river-care volunteer or monitoring team with tools in hand: a flow meter, DO probe or a planting spade. Pair that with a simple caption on what they are measuring and why.
Fieldcraft and ethics
Respect all access restrictions. Pack quiet waterproofs. Tread softly on wet ground to protect plant structure and invertebrate refuges. Frame people with dignity and clarity. Captions should translate policy to practice: less abstraction, better treatment, targeted restoration and what those mean for seasonal water levels and birds. Link the announcement for readers who want the detail.
Avian Influenza Prevention Zone in Northern Ireland
The story
After a confirmed H5N1 outbreak at a commercial site outside Omagh earlier in the month, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) introduced an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone for Northern Ireland from 1 November. The zone requires all bird keepers to follow strict biosecurity. This comes at the start of winter migration when risk rises as waterfowl arrive. Official update here: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/news/avian-influenza-prevention-zone-be-introduced-northern-ireland
Why it matters
Bird work continues through winter, but field hygiene and quiet, hands-off practice matter more than ever. You can still make strong pictures of wild birds at distance. You can also help normalise good biosecurity by showing the simple steps that keep sites safer.
Project: “Clean Boots, Clear Frames”
Aim
Blend a small documentary set on biosecurity with respectful bird images that carry a calm, winter mood.
Shot list
The kit
At the car before first light, photograph your boot brush, scraper, disinfectant (Virkon or equivalent), spare bags and a kneeling pad. Keep it tidy and instructional. A 35 or 50 mm prime at f/2.8 gives simple separation without drama.Boot clean
A close-up of soles being scrubbed after Site A and before Site B. Hands in frame if possible. This is a useful picture to share when people ask what biosecurity looks like in practice.Dawn roost at distance
A 500–600 mm frame of waterfowl or gulls settling or lifting at civil twilight. Use higher ISOs than you think and aim for 1/500 s or better, or a deliberate 1/60–1/125 s pan for movement.Context frame
A wider shot from the same bank that shows the roost in its setting. No crowding, no cutting in front of others.Signage
If DAERA or site notices are present, one straight, well-lit record shot completes the story and anchors your captions in place and time.
Fieldcraft and ethics
Keep to public land unless you have permission. Do not approach sick or dead birds. Report them through the correct channel and leave the area. Leash dogs near roosts. If a ranger asks for more distance, step back and thank them. Your images should feel calm, clean and respectful.
Bringing the three threads together
The otter fundraiser is a reminder that wildlife welfare depends on facilities and people you rarely see. The Arun Valley agreement shows how decisions about water shape habitat and the birds that depend on it. The NI prevention zone asks each of us to be part of the biosecurity chain so wild birds can pass through winter with less risk. If you want a single edit that holds together, aim for a short set with three pairs of images:
Care and place
River habitat paired with a volunteer portrait, captioned with a line about how clean flow and cover make rehab success more likely. Link to UKWOT for those who want to act.Water and life
Low-flow vs. post-rain frames from the same wetland view, captioned with a plain-English explanation of how abstraction limits and restoration funding translate into more resilient floodplains. Link to the government announcement.Hygiene and wintering birds
A clean boot-scrub picture and a distant roost portrait, with a caption that normalises hands-off practice and points to the official biosecurity advice.
Edit your set with a light touch. Keep colours natural and contrast modest. Let weather carry mood rather than filters. In your copy, be precise about locations without revealing sensitive dens or roosts. Thank people by name where appropriate. If you can, share a small image package back to UKWOT, your local rivers trust or wetland group, and any reserve teams you worked with. Pictures that are useful travel further.
Quick kit for a month of mixed weather
Lenses
16–35 mm for habitat and repeat frames; 70–200 mm for people and process; 400–600 mm for distant birds and any chance otter encounters; 90–105 mm macro for sedges, wrack and textures.Filters and support
Polariser for water and wet leaves; 3–6 stop ND for gentle motion at water margins; tripod for repeatable compositions; monopod or beanbag for long glass in wind.Hygiene
Boot brush, scraper, disinfectant, spare bags for dirty kit, hand gel. Plan single-site days when possible. If you must visit multiple wetlands, move from lower to higher risk with a thorough clean between.Notes
Log species, quotes, water state and names or roles of people you photograph. Good captions build trust and reuse.
As ever, the thread running through these stories is care in context. Otters need clean, quiet water to return to, wetlands need a fair share of flow, wintering birds need space and good hygiene from us. If you start a project this month, keep it simple and useful: choose one river bend to follow, clean your boots between sites, give wildlife room, and share your best frames with the people doing the work on the ground. Let wildlife reveal itself, work patiently, caption clearly, and use your pictures to help others see why these places matter.
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FAQ: UK Wildlife Photography: Otters, Avian Flu & Wetlands
How can I photograph wild otters in the UK ethically and legally?
Work habitat first and keep your distance. Stay downwind, move quietly, never bait, and avoid publishing details of any places you have found otters or their resting places. Otters and their holts are legally protected, so disturbing them or their resting places is an offence. Strong alternatives are habitat images, spraint rocks from public paths, tracks, slides, and wide environmental scenes that tell the story without stress.
What is an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone and can I still photograph wild birds?
An AIPZ is a legal measure that increases biosecurity when risk rises. You can usually continue photographing wild birds from public land if you follow local notices. Avoid disturbing roosts, keep dogs on leads, and give extra space during winter gatherings. Check current government advice before heading out.
What biosecurity steps should I take between sites for bird photography?
Adopt clean site habits. Scrape and brush boot soles, then disinfect with an approved product before and after each location. Keep dirty and clean kit separate in the car. Plan single site days when possible. Never approach sick or dead birds. Report them through official channels and leave the area.
Where are accessible places to photograph the Arun Valley wetlands?
Two reliable public options are RSPB Pulborough Brooks and the Amberley Wildbrooks area managed by Sussex Wildlife Trust. Use waymarked trails and public rights of way, especially during winter spates. Work one repeat viewpoint through the season to show changing water levels, wet meadow structure, and bird use without disturbance.
Can I fly a drone over nature reserves or wetlands for wildlife photography in the UK?
Generally no. Most major landowners and Wildlife Trusts do not permit recreational drone use over reserves because of disturbance and safety concerns. Permission, if ever granted, usually requires licences, insurance, and detailed plans. Always assume written permission is needed and follow site byelaws. If in doubt, leave the drone at home.