Birmingham Anglers Association

After some thought I have a suggestion to anyone thinking of protecting a fishery from otter predation.
Otters with webbed feet are not good diggers or climbers, it is Mr Fox and Mr Badger that dig the holes and let Mr Otter simply walk in.
They can be kept out without the highly expensive use of machinery to dig ground below a fence which is then filled with concrete.
This method will cost shed-loads of money and can be very difficult to do at some venues.
For a material cost of less than £2.00 per metre the same result as using tons of concrete can be achieved.
All it needs is to use what is known as ''stock fencing wire''!
This would laid flat on the ground on the outside of the fence.
Attached with a strong tying wire to the bottom of the fence, with the other edge fixed to the ground with heavy duty 12 inch long tent pegs.
About one per metre should be OK!
One type has 6inch square holes another has 12 inch x 4inch holes, which when laid flat on the ground, no fox or badger could dig through.
It is made in 50 meter lengths and the 1 metre wide type would be ideal.
With VAT included, on the first price I looked at on Ebay, works out at £1.22 per metre.
The tent pegs I looked at were 80p each including VAT.
Take the VAT off and it is well under £2.00 a metre .
A kilometre of otter protection for less than £2,000.
An absolute bargain!
It would cost more than this to hire a digger.
The cost of the fence itself depends on what spec is required.
You may want to keep people out as well as the otters.