Cornwall Water Vole Restoration

Aim: We're raising money to continue and expand our work to restore endangered water voles across the whole of Cornwall.

Don't forget every £1 you donate will be double matched by the Aviva Fund so we will receive £3!

Who are we?

We are Kernow Conservation CIC, a community-led non-profit restoring wildlife and biodiversity in Cornwall.  We restore habitats for endangered species, such as water voles and marsh fritillary butterflies, and work with many local landowners and volunteers who are committed to making a difference.

Why are we fundraising? 

With a successful reintroduction already under our belt, we are looking to continue and scale up our work with water voles.  As a UK Biodiversity Action Plan species of principal importance, and considered at risk of extinction nationally, we feel that water voles are a priority for protection.

What are water voles and why are they important?

Often referred to as ‘Water Rats’ due to their similar appearance to rats (Ratty from ‘Wind in the Willows’ was actually a water vole), water voles are ecologically important and sometimes considered a keystone species, due to their significance as a food source for larger species, and their creation of habitats for other wildlife in wetland edge environments as a result of their burrowing and grazing activities.

In Britain, water voles have been recorded to eat 227 different plant species, including grasses, common reeds, sedges, and rushes, as well as roots, tree bark, and fruit during summer months; in fact, they have been shown to consume up to 80% of their body weight daily! This grazing behaviour alters the vegetation composition and structure in the areas they inhabit, promoting a greater diversity of plant species, as well as drying out the soil, which promotes microbial activity and regulates nitrogen availability.

As a prey base, a fully grown water vole can reach 330g (up to 10 times more than a bank vole or field vole), providing an excellent food source for many other species, including birds such as kestrels, grey herons, little egrets, and barn owls, and mammals such as stoats, otters, weasels, and polecats. Unfortunately, they also make easy prey for invasive American mink, which are the only species able to enter and hunt them in their burrow systems, leading to the need for constant American mink monitoring.

Due to their popularity as a food item for other species, water voles need to reproduce quickly, and females have an average of two to three litters annually, each containing between two and eight pups. Their breeding season is also long, lasting between March and September, and the pups leave their mother at around 28 days old to find their own territories.

What will the money be used for?

The funds raised here will be used towards project management and costs for the following:

• Captive breeding more water voles for release into suitably identified sites.
• Identifying further sites that are potentially suitable for water vole reintroductions.
• Working with local landowners to assess habitat suitability and recommend any improvements.
• Working with other local landowners to monitor for American mink in the area surrounding potential release sites.
• Monitoring water vole populations after reintroductions to ensure success.
• Providing regular updates across our social media platforms and on our website.
• Working with local businesses to secure more funds towards the long-term aim of restoring water vole populations across Cornwall.

A huge thank you for your interest and support - give us a follow on our social media channels for updates!

Credit for photos:  Ali Hales/Paradise Park