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WELCOME TO CHESHIRE BIODIVERSITY
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WATER VOLE (ARVICOLA TERRESTRIS)
LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

SPECIES ECOLOGY

Water voleAppearance

The Water Vole is the largest of the British vole species weighing between 225-310g. Water vole’s are commonly mistaken for rats. However, unlike the rat the water vole has a brown and shaggy coat, a blunt nose, short furry tail and small ears.

Habitat

Occurs mainly on well-vegetated lowland ponds, rivers, canals and drainage ditches with steeply sided banks. Usually within 2m of the waters edge.

Food

Water voles are largely herbivorous and although grass forms a major part of their diet they have been known to eat up to 227 different plant species. They also eat bark, rhizomes, bulbs and roots and very occasionally fish, snails and crayfish. In order to survive the water vole needs to consume 80% of its body weight in food daily.

Predators

Water voles are known to be predated by fox, mink, domestic cat, otter, stoat and grey heron. Of these the mink poses the greatest threat to their continued survival in Great Britain and has been, along with habitat loss, a major cause of their decline in recent years.

Life Style

Links to associated HAPs

Ponds, Reedbeds

Current Status

The water vole was once common and widespread in lowland Britain but has suffered a significant decline in numbers and distribution in recent years. A repeat of the 1989-90 National survey carried out in 1996-98 found that the water vole had been lost from over 89% of the sites it occupied in 1939. In the Cheshire region 46.2% of sites were positive for signs of water voles in 1990 whereas historically 62.5% were positive (Strachan & Jefferies, 1993). Water voles can be described as widespread and locally common in the Cheshire region, favouring backwater streams, ponds and canals.

The water vole is short-listed on the U.K. Steering Group Report, Volume 1 (1995) and as such the report contains a costed Biodiversity Action Plan for the Water Vole. A national Biodiversity Steering Group has been set up with the contact point being Alistair Driver of the Environment Agency.

Water voles are protected by law and were included on Schedule 5, Section 9 (4) a & b of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) in 1998.

Threats

How are we helping to conserve Water Voles in the Cheshire region?

Targets and Actions

National Target 1

Maintain current distribution in order to arrest the decline of the species in Britain.

Local Objective

A. Establish the current distribution and range of water voles in the Cheshire region

Local Target

Actions

Delivery Responsibility

Progress report 2006

A.1 Complete baseline survey by end 2008

Begin systematic survey of potential sites

EA survey to be completed 2008

 

A.2 Identify change in distribution since 1989/90 and 1997/98 national surveys

Resurvey Cheshire region sites identified in National Water Vole Survey 1997/98

Resurvey sites identifies in the Vincent Wildlife Trusts 1989/90 baseline survey to establish if water voles present. Macclesfield Complete.

Identify potential water vole habitat within BASC members land

Action Group / trained volunteers.

 

Action Group / trained volunteers.

 

BASC

 

Local Objective

D. Safeguard water vole populations against mink

D.1 Establish current distribution and abundance of mink in the Cheshire region

Map water vole/ mink correlations

Trap mink

rECOrd

BASC membership
British Waterways

 

D.2 Monitor mink population at key water vole sites

Install mink monitoring rafts at key sites, trap if appropriate.

Organise a water vole and mink monitoring/raft building workshop

JB/EB/MBC ranger service

EB/JB/EW/MG

 

Local Objective

E. Increase awareness of water voles and their conservation issues

 

Source funding for and produce an interpretation board at Lindow Common

Organise Water Vole Survey Training course

Contact previously trained surveyors and ask if they wish to undertake surveys

Encourage Wildlife Watch groups to record water vole sightings

Contact Angling and Boating Groups for Water Vale and Mink records

JB; BAP Action Group

BAP Group

 

BAP Group

 

CWT Education Team

BAP Group

 

Local Objective

F. Safeguard water vole populations from development pressures

F.1 Ensure that development schemes do not effect integrity of water vole populations through DC process

Continue to provide advice to developers and local planning authorities

Pursue designation SBI for key sites not already designated.

EA/JB/EW/MS/BAP Group

JB/MS/EW/EN/CWT

 


National Target 2

Maintain the current abundance in order to arrest the decline of the species in Britain.

Local Objective

B. Measure abundance at key sites/areas as a baseline for annual monitoring

Local Target

Actions

Delivery Responsibility

Progress report 2006

B.1 Identify Key Sites

Identify at least one key site in each district.

BAP group

 

B 2 Undertake detailed surveys of key sites to establish population levels

Carry out population study at Lindow Common, Lindow Moss and Black Lake (Macclesfield)

JB/EB/Mammal Group/Macclesfield Rangers and volunteers

 

B.3 Carry out annual population monitoring of key sites

Survey other key sites once identified

CWT/ Mammal Group /BAP Group

 


National Target 3

Restore water voles to their former widespread distribution, using the Vincent Wildlife Trust survey of 1989/90 as a baseline, by the year 2010.

Local Objective

C. Promote favourable management of riparian habitats to maintain current distribution

Local Target

Actions

Delivery Responsibility

Progress report 2006

C.1 Target sites where population has been lost/declined since 1989/90 survey for habitat improvement and/or Mink Trapping.

Modelling of water vole/ habitat correlations in Cheshire (best left till after EA project completed)

 

Local Universities/BAP Group

 

C.2 Promote Environmental Stewardship options that benefit water vole and their habitat for significant landowners.

Invite FWAG and RDS representatives to join the Action Group

Produce a land management advice sheet for distribution through FWAG and RDS

Undertake suitable Habitat management at Dibbinsdale

JB

 

BAP Group/FWAG/RDS

Mersey Basin Trust

 

Local Objective

G. Increase resources available for Water Vole Conservation in Cheshire

 

Investigate and pursue funding opportunities for Aquatic Mammal Project Officer Post

Investigate and pursue funding opportunities for survey and practical conservation work

Water Vole BAP group in association with Otter BAP group

BAP group

 


Water vole swimming Water vole latrine

Progress so far

Ongoing Action
  • Environment Agency River Corridor Surveys document presence on and ad hoc basis.
  • Developments are being screened to take into account the requirements of water voles
  • Records being collected by rECOrd.
2006 Action Completed
  • Surveys undertaken: Lindow Common (Local Target B2), Frodsham Marshes, Lady Brook and Jackson’s Brickworks
  • Habitat enhancement Work undertaken at: Jackson’s Brickworks (local target C1) and Dibbinsdale (local target C2)
  • Key sites identified at: Lindow Common, Frodsham Marshes, (Local Target B1)
  • Funding Bids: Bids submitted to Green Card, CrBP small grants scheme, joint Cheshire and Lancashire bid SITA bid was also being developed. (Local Objective G)
  • Two known water vole sites have been entered into the HLS Environmental Stewardship Scheme (local target C2)
2005 Action Completed
  • BASC have surveyed 3 of 5 intended sites to survey for water vole presence with the help of volunteers provided by Cheshire County Council.

2004 Action Completed

  • CWT and Chester Zoo provided training for volunteers on water vole field identification and survey methodology in 2004

    .

  • A number of surveys were carried out in 2004 on various sites including the Gowy Meadows.
  • In 2004 BASC provided multiple sites where water voles were suspected to exist for the newly trained volunteer surveyors.
  • The 'Know Your Vole' recording card was produced in 2004.
1997- 2004 Action Completed
  • LBAP group formed.
  • The Water Vole Conservation handbook was produced in 1998.
  • The Vincent Wildlife Trust resurveyed the 2,970 sites of the National Water Vole Survey in Britain over 1997/98 - survey report due in 1999.
  • The Wildlife Watch, Water Volewatch project launched in 1997 prompted nearly 1000 sightings forms to be returned across the country.
  • A water vole survey in 1998 of the Sankey Brook and Whittle Brook in Warrington identified the present of strong populations.
  • Several training days in surveying techniques have been held for over seventy people.
  • Water vole issues have been included in the Weaver/Dane LEAP (1997) and the Lower Mersey LEAP (1997)
  • A series of information sheets have been produced by CWT.
  • Vale Royal Borough Council have developed an information/recording card.
  • Life Econet project used water voles as a wetland/river species for assessing the predictive nature of Ecological Networks.

Action Required

Water Vole Water Vole swimming

How to find out more about Water Voles

Other local and national plans

UK Species Action Plan for Water Vole: www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=115
The Peoples Trust for Endangered Species Water Vole BAP: www.ptes.org/work/baps/water-vole.html
Greater Manchester Species Action Plan: www.gmbiodiversity.org.uk/watervole.pdf
Lancashire Biodiversity Partnership’s Species Action Plan: www.lbap.org.uk/bap/species/watervole.htm
Staffordshire Biodiversity Action Plan: www.sbap.org.uk/
The Wirral Biodiversity Action Plan: www.wirral.gov.uk/ed/biodiversity/wvole.htm

Information on ecology and management

Water for Wildlife Project: www.wildlifetrusts.org/index.php?section=environment:wfw
The Mammal Society Water Vole Fact Sheet: www.abdn.ac.uk/mammal/water_vole.shtml
The Young Persons Trust the Environment Factsheet: www.yptenc.org.uk/docs/factsheets/animal_facts/water_vole.html
ARKive factfile: www.arkive.org/species/ARK/mammals/Arvicola_terrestris/more_info.html
Identification and recording card: Know Your Vole
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust links to documents giving advice on Water Vole habitat management: www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/index.php?section=watervole:resources
JNCC publication: Harris, S., Morris, P., Wray, S. and Yalden, D. A review of British mammals: population estimates and conservation status of British mammals other than cetaceans. www.jncc.gov.uk/page-2759
Vale Royal Borough Council Water Vole Species Recording card

How can you get involved?

Contact details

LBAP Chair James Baggaley, Macclesfield Borough Council
Phone: 01625 504659
Fax: 01625 504675
National Lead Partners UK Water Vole Steering Group
National Lead Contact Alastair Driver, Environment Agency

References & Glossary

HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 1: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 2:Action Plans, London.
U.K. Water Vole Steering Group (1997): Species Action Plan for the U.K. - Water vole, Arvicola terrestris.
Mitchell-Jones, A.J. (1996): Mammals in England - A Conservation Action Priority List, English Nature.
Morris, P. (1993): A Red Data Book for British Mammals, Mammal Society.
Strachan, R. & Jefferies, D. (1993): The water vole (Arvicola terrestris) in Britain 1980-1990: Its Distribution and Changing Status, The Vincent Wildlife Trust

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