Thorley Wash Nature Reserve leads the way in fight to save water voles
Thorley Wash Nature Reserve is leading the way as conservationists battle to save water voles.
The Wildlife Trusts’ new National Water Vole Database Project Report contrasts the continuing decline in numbers across the country with increases in areas where ecological efforts have been focused.
Thorley Wash, on the outskirts of Bishop’s Stortford, is one of two locations in Hertfordshire identified as a ‘regional key area’.
The site meets the 35 sq km (13.5 sq mile) threshold at which it is likely to play a strategic role in the recovery of the endangered mammals.
Nationally there has been a 39% decrease in the number of areas occupied compared to the 2006 baseline.
Expansion of the species, to both the east and west of Hertfordshire, coincides with sustained conservation work undertaken by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust (HMWT) since 2002.
In 2015, the trust managed a successful water vole reintroduction at Thorley Wash, the wetland reserve between the River Stort navigation and the Stort backwater.
In 2022, a further reintroduction took place on the River Beane near Watton-at-Stone. Surveys have subsequently reported an increase in range from both sites.
Since 2012, the trust has also been delivering its Living Rivers project, in partnership with the Environment Agency, to restore the area’s rare chalk rivers wildlife, including water voles. Extensive work has taken place on the rivers Stort, Ash, Beane, Lea and Rib.
Across Hertfordshire and Middlesex, the trust is working to eradicate American mink, which were introduced to this country by fur farmers in the 1920s and are the prime reason for water vole decline.
Josh Kalms, water vole officer at HMWT, said: “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 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 plant 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.”
Ali Morse, water policy manager at the Wildlife Trusts, said: “Just because voles are present, it doesn’t mean they’re thriving.
“We still need to ensure 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 co-ordinated approach. We need to help populations expand from remaining strongholds by ensuring that developers, land managers, farmers and conservationists all work in tandem.”