A new report from The Wildlife Trusts, The National Water Vole Database Project Report, identifies continued declines in Water Vole populations set against heartening increases in areas where conservation efforts have been focused. 

Within the report, two areas of Hertfordshire have been identified as ‘Regional Key Areas’, newly meeting the 35km² threshold at which it is likely to play a strategic role in the recovery of Water Voles. Nationally there has been a 39% decrease in the number of areas occupied compared to the 2006 baseline. The expansion of the species, to both the east and west of the county, coincides with sustained conservation work undertaken by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust since 2002 and their partners, who are committed to bringing back the endangered mammal.

• In 2015, the Trust managed a successful Water Vole reintroduction at Thorley Wash Nature Reserve, a wetland reserve nestled between the River Stort navigation and the Stort backwater. In 2022, a further Water Vole reintroduction took place on the River Beane near Watton-at-Stone. Surveys have subsequently reported an increase in range from both sites.

• The Trust and the Colne Valley Fisheries Consultative, which represents the interests of angling clubs in the Colne Valley, worked together to celebrate the role anglers play as stewards of wetland environments and to help maximise the potential of their fisheries for both fish and wildlife. One of the Colne’s two established Water Vole populations is on a fishery, where the species is thriving alongside traditional fisheries management.

• Since 2012, the Trust has been delivering its Living Rivers project, in partnership with the Environment Agency and acting as host of the River Lea Catchment Partnership bringing together and supporting others to restore the area’s rare chalk rivers for the benefit of wildlife, including Water Voles. As a result, extensive river restoration works have taken place across the area, including to the east of the county where Water Vole expansion is reported, on the rivers Stort, Ash, Beane, Lea, and Rib.

• Across Hertfordshire and Middlesex, the Trust continues to work towards the eradication of American Mink, introduced to this country by fur farmers in the 1920s and known to be the prime reason for Water Vole extinctions and declines, in partnership with Waterlife Recovery Trust, and by co-ordinating action with neighbouring counties.

Josh Kalms, Water Vole Officer at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust says:

“Despite the disappointing national findings, the localised picture shows there is hope for the future of Water Voles thanks to the Trust’s work to conserve voles and their habitats continuously for over 20 years. We will build upon this further with reintroductions, continuing American Mink control and by conserving and restoring habitats so that Water Voles, and other wildlife, can thrive.

“Water Voles are mini-ecosystem engineers and they contribute greatly to healthy river ecology. They look after our riverbanks, burrowing and eating a huge range of plants species. In doing so, they move seeds around, helping to maintain varied plant cover and creating lush and wild bankside vegetation. They are also a key food source for native species like Stoats, predatory fish and birds of prey.”

Commenting on the national report, Ali Morse, Water Policy Manager at The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“Just because voles are present, it doesn’t mean that they are thriving. We still need to ensure that that we provide undisturbed riverbanks, reedbeds and ponds, and remove the non-native American Mink that have devastated Water Vole populations, to allow their numbers to build up once more.

“Bringing back resilient populations requires a coordinated approach. We need to help populations expand from remaining strongholds, by ensuring that developers, land managers, farmers and conservationists all work in tandem.”

The Wildlife Trusts are calling for:

• A roll-out of a project exploring how nature restoration funds from housing developers can be used better, including to enhance Water Vole habitats.

• Priority to be given to the creation of Water Vole habitats within Environmental Land Management Schemes.
• Key area mapping to be used to inform conservation efforts through the Biodiversity Net Gain requirements which ensure developers enhance nature.

The National Water Vole Database Project Report is available to read here. 

This news story details just some of our Water Vole conservation work. Find out more about reintroducing the species in this blog, and discover more Water Vole facts here. You can also read about the Water Vole reintroduction that took place on the River Ver in 2021 - and how those voles are thriving here.