Water Voles Released Back into Their Natural Habitat at Local Nature Reserve

More than 100 captive-bred water voles have been released into the wild in Nottinghamshire, marking a significant step in conservation efforts for England’s fastest-declining mammal. The release took place at Idle Valley Nature Reserve, near Retford, as part of the Nottinghamshire Water Vole Recovery Project.

This initiative, which runs until March 2025, is backed by £491,740 in funding to restore and create wetland habitats to support water voles and boost their numbers. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is also focusing on habitat improvements at other locations and controlling mink populations to help the species thrive.

Surveys from last year showed that water voles were almost entirely absent from areas where they were once commonly found. The 58-hectare (143 acres) enclosure at Idle Valley, originally created for a beaver reintroduction project in 2021, now serves as the site for this water vole release.

Janice Bradley, the trust’s head of nature recovery, highlighted that funding from Natural England’s Species Recovery Capital Grant Scheme and Severn Trent has provided the necessary resources to turn long-held conservation goals into reality. She emphasized the urgency, stating that without immediate action, the future of water voles in Nottinghamshire is dire.

Karen Shelley-Jones, species recovery manager for Natural England, added that the project is part of broader efforts to mitigate the impact of invasive species on native wildlife, aligning with the Environment Act’s target to reduce extinction risks.