FARNHAM residents will be able to ‘spot an otter’ when they are out shopping or going for a walk once a new art trail, launched by the Mayor of Farnham, Mike Hodge, is completed. 

The new community art project called the Otter Wey, is being led by local artist Jo Aylwin of Bloomin’ Arts, which is an initiative of Farnham in Bloom.

The project will involve schoolchildren, art groups, voluntary organisations and even businesses in designing and painting life-sized models of otters to be installed in a trail in and around the town early next summer.

The mayor, Mike Hodge said: “It’s wonderful to have Jo Aylwin and Bloomin’ Arts leading this project, which will result in charming artworks created by people from our own community being on display for all to see.

“The project will link schools and community groups with businesses and is a very exciting way to be bringing art to people in Farnham.”

Farnham Town Council is supporting the Otter Wey as part of the Farnham in Bloom activities for 2018. The trail will celebrate the River Wey, which runs through Farnham, as well as the town and local green spaces by bringing fun and splashes of colour to locations where walkers least expect them.

Otters are to be the star of the show as this much-loved native river mammal is thought to be returning to the River Wey and other waterways in Surrey. Volunteers from Surrey Wildlife Trust work to maintain and improve waterways across the county so that the rivers can sustain creatures such as otters and other native species.

The trust has been monitoring evidence of otters’ presence in the River Wey and is hopeful they may make a permanent return.

To support the Otter Wey, the Lions Club of Farnham in conjunction with Bloomin’ Art are running a fundraising campaign to raise money for the project.

The launch took place at the Farnham Pottery in Wrecclesham with speakers and a small reception.

At the end of the project, and once Farnham residents have had the chance to enjoy the trail next year, many of the otter models will be sold or auctioned with proceeds being shared between the mayor’s charities: The Woodlarks Centre and the Brightwells Gostrey Community Centre.