Amid tales from the river bank of otters spotted at play in Ripon, the Stray Ferret wanted to see one for itself.

But day after day of dawn and dusk patrols up and down the Skell and neighbouring canal, proved fruitless.

Social media posts told of sightings at Alma Weir, near the Water Rat gastro pub, where diners had witnessed the elusive creatures searching out their own fish of the day.

Riverside regular Pippa Hicks told of a family group that passed by – but unfortunately the keen nature photographer didn’t have her smart phone handy to capture the moment. It was gone in a flash, with a splash.

Dog walkers, runners, people on morning and evening exercise – all had their otter spotter experiences to share.

Then came a chance morning meeting with John Heselton – a man used to rising early himself, as a former postman in Ripon.

Now retired, after 20 years of door to door service in the city, he takes 18-month-old border collie Ruby for daily walks by the river.

The question to him: ‘I don’t suppose you’ve seen any otters along here?’

Not only had he seen one, several in fact, but he had photos and videos taken just days ago.

Nature-lover and otter spotter John Heselton with his border collie Ruby

Mr Heselton is an animal lover, beekeeper and a photographer. He was also a font of knowledge.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“My wife Maggie and I have lived in Ripon for 40 years and we had never seen one for ourselves until very recently.

“Then, because I am known locally for my nature photography, a young lady knocked on my door one afternoon and told me there was an otter swimming around in the nearby Skell.

“I was quickly off with smartphone at the ready.”

Mr Heselton, added:

“The sight was magnificent and I felt totally elated. There he was, a dog otter diving and re-emerging from the water and even tucking into a fish!”

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The Stray Ferret will keep looking in the hope of providing its own eye-witness account.

In the meantime, following the serendipitous meeting with Mr Heselton, we can, at least, share his riverside record.

Tomorrow the Great Yorkshire Creature Count is beginning across the county and there is still time to sign up and take part.

The event runs from midday Saturday to midday Sunday June 20. People can join in for as long as they like, whether for just a few minutes or a whole afternoon.

Any wildlife they see over the 24 hours, whether that’s a sparrow perched on a windowsill, a slug among the vegetables or a moth attracted by a streetlight, can be counted towards the total.

A boy using a magnifying glass to look for bugs (Photo: Adrian Clarke)

There are three ways to join in: by downloading the iNaturalist app, uploading any sightings to the website or downloading a checklist with 20 popular species to spot, which has extra space to make notes or draw pictures of any other creatures.

The checklist is a new feature for 2021 and is aimed at younger children or people who prefer a more traditional way of recording data.

Bilton resident Angela, who has taken part in previous years, has already downloaded the iNaturalist app. She said:

“The app is fairly easy to use: you basically take a photograph of a creature and it comes back with suggestions and gives feedback.”

People can submit their results online or download the iNaturalist app to log sightings.

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Last year 4,500 people took part and 13,638 observations were made of 1,471 species. The most-sighted creature was a blackbird, followed by a woodpigeon and a house sparrow.

The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust said:

“Our gardens make up more of the UK’s green space than all the nature reserves combined. And the past year has shown us how much we need nature in our lives.

“But nature needs our help. The 2019 State of Nature Report (a health check of the UK’s wildlife) reports the devastating effects of human impact on our wildlife. Of the 8,418 species assessed, 15% are now at risk of extinction.”

“Leaving a legacy” and ensuring “safe areas for wildlife” were some of the driving forces that have encouraged people to buy shares in the district’s first community woodland.

Today, the Long Lands Common Ltd announced thousands of local people’s dreams had become a reality as it raised the funds to buy 30 acres of land in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

The project’s aim was provide an area for the whole community to enjoy and create a wildlife haven.

But for many shareholders it gave them the opportunity to pass something on to future generations and ensure there was always some green space for them to enjoy.

“The shares are for them”

Dave Hamilton, Harrogate, said:

“I have four grandchildren and I wanted them to grow up with the hope of green space. I wanted to improve their awareness of the natural world around them. The shares are for them.”

Tracey Davison-Franks, Harrogate, said:

“I wanted to know what legacy I could give to my grandson and this felt just right. The value of the great outdoors is something we have lost a little with technology but we can make memories with him here. We wanted something we could pass down. This was our opportunity to do something meaningful and benefit those future generations.”

James McKay, an artist from Knaresborough drew what proposed plans for the 30 acres could look like.

For others it was their determination to protect natural habitats that encouraged them to buy shares.

“I think it’s worth saving”

Ben Thompson, Harrogate, said:

“For me it was my love of nature and natural history and the need to preserve the natural world. Things like this will help make the proposed road difficult, we are preserving what we’ve got for future generations. I think it’s worth saving.”

Gillie McAvoy, Harrogate, said:

“We are huge wildlife lovers in our house, we have lived along the Nidd Gorge for 30 years. It was really important for us to provide those safe areas wildlife especially with all the development going on.”

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After four months of community share sales the target has been reached. Thanks to a huge response from people in the district and beyond the local community has a space to call their own.

“Given the community a reason to smile”

Faye Harris-Frost, Harrogate, said:

“Having so much natural beauty on our doorstep is something that we are extremely thankful for. The idea that some of these areas may not still be around when our children are fully grown is incredibly sad and so we were keen to sign up.

At a time when many people feel disillusioned and let down by the powers that be, the scheme has not only given the community a reason to smile and hope for the future but has shown what we can all achieve when we work together to drive change.”