Riverbank walker Martin Farrer found himself with a picture to be proud of after a game of hide and seek with an otter.

Now Martin’s image of the otter will feature in the Tyne Rivers Trust’s 2018 charity calendar.

Retired structural engineer Martin walks his dog daily along the Tyne riverside near his home in Corbridge in Northumberland.

He said: “I caught a glimpse a few times of an otter at the same spot so I started carrying my camera.”

One day Martin tied his dog up behind some trees out of sight of the otter, and waited to see if it would surface.

After 10 minutes it popped its head above water and then dived again. As it repeated the procedure several times Martin gradually moved down the river bank and eventually managed to capture his picture from a distance of only five yards.

“The otter just looked at me curiously. I was well chuffed with the picture,” he said.

Tyne making waves by Norma McKellar
Tyne making waves by Norma McKellar

The cover of the calendar is an image by Norma McKellar taken from Gateshead Quayside, using a technique known as painting with light.

Norma, who describes her hobby of photography as “a passion” is particularly interested in the quality of light, especially around dawn along the region’s coast.

Friends Ian Huitson and Allan England, helped Norma create her night Quayside picture by moving around with torches while she took a long 32-second exposure.

Norma goes by the name of Sheerlight for her photography and uses her images to help the RNLI and the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“I’ve always enjoyed art and creative crafts and I especially love exploring light in my images, said Norma, who works at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

Tyne boats
Tyne boats

Of her calendar cover picture, she said: “For any passers-by this was a hoot, as all they saw were my friends Ian and Allan running up and down with lights.”

The calendar is on sale at shops across the catchment including Hexham Abbey gift shop and Forum books in Corbridge or from http://www.tyneriverstrust.org/shop

Trist director Susan Mackirdy said: “The calendar was such a success last year that we wanted to continue it for 2018. Not only does it raise vital funds for the trust it is also a great way to celebrate the river.

“Copies were sent as far away as New Zealand and Australia – people from all over the world love the Tyne. The money raised will improve the Tyne for residents and visitors.”

The calendar’s production costs have been covered by EGGER, the Hexham chipboard factory.

Tobias Zimmermann, plant director technical/production at EGGER, said:: “We are delighted to continue to support the good work that Tyne Rivers Trust undertakes. “

North Shields Fish Quay
North Shields Fish Quay

The other photographers whose images make up the calendar are: Angus Reid, Harry Mclaren, David Ord, Peter Mentell, Barbara Austin, Graham Holyoak, John Austin, Bob Turner, and Ronald Bowe..

The trust is a partner in a project which has cleared the way for salmon to return to their old spawning grounds in the River Derwent, a major tributary of the Tyne.

Young salmon have been found in the river at Shotley Bridge in Consett for the first time in 300 years.

The 33 juvenile salmon caught during routine sampling by the Environment Agency are the first evidence of the fish spawning this far upstream since a number of large weirs were built in the past to power industry in the area.

Around £750,000 has been invested to build fish passes at four of the weirs to allow fish to reach upstream spawning grounds of the Derwent.

South Tyne Lambley Viaduct near Haltwhistle
South Tyne Lambley Viaduct near Haltwhistle

The latest, built a year ago at Lintzford in a partnership project between the Environment Agency, Tyne Rivers Trust and Esh Group, was immediately successful, with adult fish seen using it within hours of its completion.

As well as juveniles caught during sampling upstream at Shotley Bridge, the Environment Agency also found record high numbers of juveniles at three other locations downstream.

The agency’s Phil Rippon, fisheries technical specialist, said: “The presence of young salmon this far upstream has shown the immediate impact and success of the new fish pass. To find them so soon after the completion of the pass and during a single routine survey shows that significant numbers have spawned upstream.

“It’s also likely that many more sea trout and brown trout will also have been able to access their historical spawning grounds. This is great news for the River Derwent.”

Autumn colours viewed over the Tyne from Tyne Green
Autumn colours viewed over the Tyne from Tyne Green

Efforts have now started to build a fish pass at the only remaining large weir on the Derwent, further upstream at Shotley Grove.

The Environment Agency and Tyne Rivers Trust have completed preliminary design work for a fish pass, and are now seeking funding..

Douglas Phillips, operations director for Tyne Rivers Trust, said: “With more funding the Derwent could become a fantastic example of how intervention on a whole river system can improve spawning rates and the health of the river as a whole.”