Devon Water Voles
East Devon’s own ‘Wind in the Willows’
EAST Devon District Council is delighted to announce that it has received funding from the SITA Trust, through the Landfill Communities Fund, for a three year project to encourage the natural re-colonisation of East Devon’s rivers by water vole.
Kenneth Grahame’s much loved Ratty was, in fact, a water vole but the days of his riverbank have long been lost to these rare and shy creatures, which are thought to be extinct in Devon and Cornwall.
On Tuesday 26 February, Joan Ruddock, Minister for Biodiversity, announced that water voles will shortly get full legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which will further aid their recovery. Their inclusion in this Act is a result of more than ten years’ of lobbying and recognises the dramatic decline of the water vole over recent years. The water vole population was estimated to be 200,000 in 2005, down from 900,000 in 2000 and this, in turn, was down from 7 million in 1989. Other than one reintroduced population, the water vole is thought to be extinct in the wild in Devon and Cornwall. The national, regional and local Species Action Plans for water vole are based on the belief that water voles have disappeared due to the loss of suitable habitat and being preyed upon by the introduced American mink. Improving their habitat and controlling the mink would give the best chance of water voles re-colonising naturally.
GOOD HABITAT
Many sites have been identified on the Rivers Axe and Otter which, with suitable practical improvement work, could provide good habitat for water voles. Such work would include the coppicing of bank-side alder, re-pollarding of willows, the fencing of stream and riverside fields to include a buffer strip and the restoration of ponds. Coppicing or pollarding of bank-side trees allows more light back on the water and will favour the riverbank and water-borne vegetation that water voles need for food and cover.
The practical work along the rivers will, of course, help many other groups such as fish (salmon, sea trout and brown trout benefiting from cleaner water) and insects, which will have more extensive stands of native plants along the edges of rivers and ponds. The project is aiming to protect 11 kilometres of riverbank and to restore 20 ponds, as well as to create new ponds and wetland areas. This will be done both with contractors and local volunteers.
There will be educational and experiential benefits to young people, as many schools and colleges will be approached to give their children the opportunity to help with practical elements of the project. Exeter University students are also likely to become involved in aspects of the work.
As well as attracting SITA Trust funding, this work is also supported by the Environment Agency, Natural England and the East Devon AONB Sustainable Development Fund.
Councillor Graham Liverton, Portfolio Holder for Environment said: “Legal protection for the water vole has been a long time coming. I am delighted this protection has been introduced at a time when the Council has received funding to re-introduce this delightful creature to East Devon’s rivers. This project will have far-reaching and long term effects on the district’s bio-diversity and demonstrates the Council’s commitment to providing residents with a safe, clean and green environment.”
Ends
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
EDDC would like to hear from anyone who would like to get involved with the project, whether it is with the practical work on the rivers and ponds or with any recollections of water voles in or near East Devon.
To find out more please contact Mervyn Newman, Water Vole Project Officer, Devon Water Vole Recovery Project, on 01395 516551 ext 2061 or email him at mnewman [at] eastdevon [dot] gov [dot] uk
For information, please contact:
Nick Stephen, Communications Officer on 01395 517559
East Devon District Council, Knowle, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8HL
www.eastdevon.gov.uk