European Rewilding Network

Restoring Water Vole Populations Across Cornwall

Bringing back a locally extinct keystone species

Water voles can have a profound effect on local ecosystems. Weighing up to 10 times more than other species of vole, they are efficient prey for these other species.
Neil Aldridge
A captive bred water vole prior to be released at a reintroduction site. They eat up to 80% of their body weight per day and reproduce rapidly.
Ali Hales
A few of the water voles are released straight into the environment from a captive breeding program and continue to monitor the area for both water vole establishment and dispersal.
Ali Hales
Through working with local landowners and engaging the local community, our project is working to restore water vole populations across river catchments in Cornwall.
Ali Hales
Captive bred water voles are held in soft release cages for a few days to acclimatise to the local environment
Neil Aldridge

During the 1990s the last water vole record from Cornwall was confirmed before the species became locally extinct. It is believed that habitat loss and fragmentation reduced and disconnected their populations, which was then followed by predation by escapes and releases of non-native American mink. This invasive rapidly caused the demise of the already dwindling populations across all river catchment in the region.   

Water voles can have a profound effect on local ecosystems in several ways. They eat up to 80% of their body weight per day and reproduce rapidly, with females having up to 4 or 5 litters per year. This leads to a population boom during the breeding season, and they act as a prey base for many other species during this time. Weighing up to 10 times more than other species of vole, they are efficient prey for these other species, such as barn owl, heron, fox and otter, and their availability can improve the ability of these other species to survive and reproduce. Water vole grazing behaviour can also increase plant diversity. They have been recorded eating up to 227 different plant species, and this means that succession can be slowed, and the area does not become dominated by fewer species. Finally, water voles can create large multi-chambered burrows, used for shelter and breeding. These burrows dry out the soil and change nitrogen levels within it, which can also improve plant diversity. Amphibians and reptiles have also been recorded sheltering within disused burrows. 

Specification Description Achievements Exchange
Project: Restoring Water Vole Populations Across Cornwall
Region: Cornwall
Keystone species: Water Vole
Type of project: Increasing interest in the wild through communications, Supporting wildlife comeback
Aim and vision: Once common the water vole became extinct in Cornwall in the 1990s, due to habitat loss and invasive American mink. Our aim is to restore this species to as many Cornish river catchments as possible, through the reintroduction of captive bred animals. By working with supportive volunteers, landowners and businesses we are able to identify suitable areas and raising the necessary funds to support this. As we develop these relationships the longer-term aim is to promote further rewilding initiatives in Cornwall and the reintroduction of other lost species.
Our mission is to protect and restore the biodiversity of Cornwall, through rewilding and other conservation initiatives. To do this week seek engagement from our local community of volunteers, landowners and businesses to create a lasting change.
Uniqueness of the project: Our project works across multiple landholdings and aims to reconnect fragmented habitats through the reintroduction of a functional prey base species. Being up to 10 times larger than other local vole species, the water vole is an efficient prey item for many birds and mammals and restores a lost part of the food web.
Other activities: Community involved, Research
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on: We are aiming to scale up our restoration of water vole populations across Cornwall, achieving reintroductions into 50 or more of the local river catchments. We are also aiming to reintroduce other locally lost species, such as beaver, osprey and white-tailed eagle.
Results so far: Surveys and monitoring for American mink are undertaken and volunteers help with habitat restoration by clearing areas that have become overgrown and unsuitable for water voles. We also advocate for habitat creation, such as ponds, and the reintroduction of beavers to improve connectivity (beavers are not currently present in many areas of Cornwall, but as they recolonise and are reintroduced will provide a natural solution to restoring water vole habitats through creating wetland areas and felling trees.). After we believe that an area is suitable again for water voles, we reintroduce some animals from a captive breeding program and continue to monitor the area for both water vole establishment and dispersal and for American mink. So far, we have successfully carried out three water vole releases and are already seeing the animals disperse and breed in areas away from the reintroduction site. We also have a further releases scheduled, and already have further sites identified for future releases.
Inspirational value: Since our work began, we have learnt a lot about our local community and their desire to restore and protect the natural heritage of Cornwall. We work closely with them and provide an avenue to become more directly involved in rewilding through becoming a volunteer, business partner or supportive landowner, and are creating a new momentum that will deliver benefits to both nature and people.
Experience you would like to share: We can share our experiences for starting a new organisation and how we have developed from there. This includes how we find our funding and how we engage with the local community to work with supportive landowners and volunteers.
Experience you would like to gain: To learn about other projects within the network and their differing experiences, successes, challenge etc.
Map
Country
UK, England
Start year
2022
Size (ha)
6145
Area type
Wetlands
Natural process
Natural grazing, Other, Predation
Flagship species
Water Vole
Restoring Water Vole Populations Across Cornwall
Water voles can have a profound effect on local ecosystems. Weighing up to 10 times more than other species of vole, they are efficient prey for these other species.
Neil Aldridge
A captive bred water vole prior to be released at a reintroduction site. They eat up to 80% of their body weight per day and reproduce rapidly.
Ali Hales
A few of the water voles are released straight into the environment from a captive breeding program and continue to monitor the area for both water vole establishment and dispersal.
Ali Hales
Through working with local landowners and engaging the local community, our project is working to restore water vole populations across river catchments in Cornwall.
Ali Hales
Captive bred water voles are held in soft release cages for a few days to acclimatise to the local environment
Neil Aldridge

During the 1990s the last water vole record from Cornwall was confirmed before the species became locally extinct. It is believed that habitat loss and fragmentation reduced and disconnected their populations, which was then followed by predation by escapes and releases of non-native American mink. This invasive rapidly caused the demise of the already dwindling populations across all river catchment in the region.   

Water voles can have a profound effect on local ecosystems in several ways. They eat up to 80% of their body weight per day and reproduce rapidly, with females having up to 4 or 5 litters per year. This leads to a population boom during the breeding season, and they act as a prey base for many other species during this time. Weighing up to 10 times more than other species of vole, they are efficient prey for these other species, such as barn owl, heron, fox and otter, and their availability can improve the ability of these other species to survive and reproduce. Water vole grazing behaviour can also increase plant diversity. They have been recorded eating up to 227 different plant species, and this means that succession can be slowed, and the area does not become dominated by fewer species. Finally, water voles can create large multi-chambered burrows, used for shelter and breeding. These burrows dry out the soil and change nitrogen levels within it, which can also improve plant diversity. Amphibians and reptiles have also been recorded sheltering within disused burrows. 

Map
Country
UK, England
Start year
2022
Size (ha)
6145
Area type
Wetlands
Natural process
Natural grazing, Other, Predation
Flagship species
Water Vole
Specification
Project: Restoring Water Vole Populations Across Cornwall
Region: Cornwall
Keystone species: Water Vole
Description
Type of project: Increasing interest in the wild through communications, Supporting wildlife comeback
Aim and vision: Once common the water vole became extinct in Cornwall in the 1990s, due to habitat loss and invasive American mink. Our aim is to restore this species to as many Cornish river catchments as possible, through the reintroduction of captive bred animals. By working with supportive volunteers, landowners and businesses we are able to identify suitable areas and raising the necessary funds to support this. As we develop these relationships the longer-term aim is to promote further rewilding initiatives in Cornwall and the reintroduction of other lost species.
Our mission is to protect and restore the biodiversity of Cornwall, through rewilding and other conservation initiatives. To do this week seek engagement from our local community of volunteers, landowners and businesses to create a lasting change.
Uniqueness of the project: Our project works across multiple landholdings and aims to reconnect fragmented habitats through the reintroduction of a functional prey base species. Being up to 10 times larger than other local vole species, the water vole is an efficient prey item for many birds and mammals and restores a lost part of the food web.
Other activities: Community involved, Research
Achievements
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on: We are aiming to scale up our restoration of water vole populations across Cornwall, achieving reintroductions into 50 or more of the local river catchments. We are also aiming to reintroduce other locally lost species, such as beaver, osprey and white-tailed eagle.
Results so far: Surveys and monitoring for American mink are undertaken and volunteers help with habitat restoration by clearing areas that have become overgrown and unsuitable for water voles. We also advocate for habitat creation, such as ponds, and the reintroduction of beavers to improve connectivity (beavers are not currently present in many areas of Cornwall, but as they recolonise and are reintroduced will provide a natural solution to restoring water vole habitats through creating wetland areas and felling trees.). After we believe that an area is suitable again for water voles, we reintroduce some animals from a captive breeding program and continue to monitor the area for both water vole establishment and dispersal and for American mink. So far, we have successfully carried out three water vole releases and are already seeing the animals disperse and breed in areas away from the reintroduction site. We also have a further releases scheduled, and already have further sites identified for future releases.
Exchange
Inspirational value: Since our work began, we have learnt a lot about our local community and their desire to restore and protect the natural heritage of Cornwall. We work closely with them and provide an avenue to become more directly involved in rewilding through becoming a volunteer, business partner or supportive landowner, and are creating a new momentum that will deliver benefits to both nature and people.
Experience you would like to share: We can share our experiences for starting a new organisation and how we have developed from there. This includes how we find our funding and how we engage with the local community to work with supportive landowners and volunteers.
Experience you would like to gain: To learn about other projects within the network and their differing experiences, successes, challenge etc.
Restoring Water Vole Populations Across Cornwall
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