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"A brown little face with whiskers. A grave round face, with the same twinkle in its eye that had first attracted his notice. Small neat ears and thick silky hair. It was the water rat !"
(Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows, 1908)

1.    Aim

To conserve London’s water vole population and increase their range and numbers for the benefit of current and future generations.

2.    Introduction

The former widespread distribution and abundance of the water vole (Arvicola terrestris) has meant that it has attracted little or no previous conservation interest. However, its accelerating decline in numbers and the resulting fragmentation of its population is of great concern.

As one of the main characters in the Children’s classic The Wind in the Willows, the water rat, or water vole as it is properly called, is a well-liked and familiar animal amongst the general public – with their short, blunt muzzle, small hairy ears and plump, rounded body. Water voles are not overly sensitive to the presence of people and may be easily seen during the day in areas where they still survive. This high profile presents opportunities to bring the species’ plight to the attention of London’s public, publicise the progress of the Action Plan and involve people in its conservation.

The water vole is potentially an excellent flagship species, whose presence reflects healthy waterside habitats and their associated plant communities.

3.    Current Status

The changing fortunes of the British water vole population through the 20th century has only recently come to light, following the pioneering national surveys conducted by the Vincent Wildlife Trust in 1989-90 and 1996-98. These surveys confirmed that the species has become progressively scarcer along our waterways since the 1930s, as the result of habitat loss and land-use changes associated with the intensification of agriculture in the wider countryside. Since the 1980s, this decline has accelerated due to predation by feral American Mink (established as escapes from fur farms). The decline has now developed into a serious population crash with a further 88% loss to the remaining populations in only seven years (1991-1998). This makes the water vole the most rapidly declining mammal in Britain.

In Greater London the water vole has disappeared from over 72% of the sites it occupied before 1997 (LMG Greater London Water Vole Survey 1997). Although the species still retains a widespread distribution around much of London’s periphery (especially in the Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Redbridge, Richmond, Waltham Forest), populations are highly localised and fragmented.

4.    Specific Factors Affecting the Species

The many factors that influence the survival of this species are outlined below. They are listed in order of priority, but each may have a greater or lesser local effect depending on the robustness of the individual populations and their habitat.

4.1    Fragmentation and isolation of habitats and populations

This is viewed as being a major factor of concern. Loss of wetland habitats has reduced populations and left them more vulnerable to other threats such as predation. Development, land drainage, low water levels, river engineering and changes in waterside management have all destroyed habitat. Intensive grazing and trampling by livestock along watercourses also contributes greatly to habitat loss in some of the more rural boroughs.

4.2    Predation by mink

The arrival and spread of mink along a waterway has been found to have serious consequences for water voles and rapid extinction of some water vole colonies has been recorded. Mink predation is influenced and exacerbated by other threats such as habitat loss. The current status of mink in the London boroughs is unknown.

4.3    Disturbance of riparian habitats

In the past, channelisation and subsequent dredging operations as part of flood defence management caused the most significant form of disturbance. These modifications have had a drastic effect on water vole habitat causing the destruction of burrows, loss of emergent and in-stream vegetation and the re-profiling or hard engineering of the banks. Mechanical cutting and removal of bankside vegetation may also be highly disturbing to water voles.

Water voles are relatively tolerant of human recreational activities (dog walking, angling and boating) along waterways as long as they have vegetation cover in which to hide.

4.4    Deterioration of riparian habitats and reduction of flow

Water voles appear to be relatively tolerant of low water quality but the full impacts of different types of pollution such as industrial effluent are unknown. Low flows and droughts such as those caused by over-abstraction of groundwater can lead to localised loss of water voles. By contrast, prolonged flooding can also be detrimental.

4.5    Rodenticides and rat control

Poisoned grain or similar rodenticides placed for rats or mice may be taken by water voles if placed along a watercourse. The proliferation of rats along a waterway, attracted by litter and human refuse, may be detrimental to water voles which may be out-competed or even fall prey to their larger cousins. Carried out carefully, rat control has been shown to be beneficial to water voles.

5.    Current Action

5.1 Legal status

The water vole has been given legal protection under the Wild Mammals (protection) Act 1996 and Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).

The Wildlife and Countryside Act protection makes it an offence intentionally to;

Damage, destroy, or obstruct access to any structure or place which water voles use for shelter or protection
Disturb water voles while they are using such a place

5.2 Mechanisms targeting the species

These current actions are ongoing. They need to be supported and continued in addition to the new action listed under Section 7.

5.2.1 Advice

Practical advice about water vole conservation and habitat management has been summarised in The Water Vole Conservation Handbook (Strachan 1998). Educational resources include the Focus on Water Voles slide pack produced by The Wildlife Trusts.

5.2.2 Waterway management

Flood defence management of waterways is being carried out in accordance with best practice guidelines to maintain water vole populations.

Local Environment Agency Plans (LEAPS) and Water Level Management Plans now consider the requirements of water voles and implement actions when appropriate.

Many Local Authorities and organisations are already promoting water vole conservation through habitat enhancement projects, surveys and publicity campaigns.

5.2.3 Research

National Research is currently underway investigating translocation and reintroduction as methods to aid the species recovery.

6.    Objectives, Actions and Targets

Most of these actions are specific to this species. However, there are other, broader actions that apply generically to a number of habitats and species. These are located in a separate ‘Generic Action’ section which should be read in conjunction with this document. There are generic actions for Site Management, Habitat Protection, Species Protection, Ecological Monitoring, Biological Records, Communications and Funding.

Please note that the partners identified in the tables are those that have been involved in the process of forming the plan. It is not an exclusive list and new partners are both welcomed and needed. The leads identified are responsible for co-ordinating the actions – but are not necessarily implementers.

Objective 1 Establish a baseline for future monitoring.

Target: Status and key populations assessed by end of 2001

 

Action

Target Date

Lead

Other Partners

Create a water vole project officer post to actively promote water vole conservation in the London area

2001

EA

LA, LWT, LVRPA

Collate existing records of water voles and mink in London

2001

LWT

EA, LA, LNHS, GLA, RSPB

Identify key populations and areas where new survey and monitoring should be focused

2001

LWT

EA, LA, LVRPA

Objective 2 Maintain water vole distribution and abundance at their March 2001 levels

Target : At least no significant change by 2011

 

Action

Target Date

Lead

Other Partners

Identify water vole sites where land is grazed and encourage the protection of water courses by fencing

Ongoing

EA

EN, LWT, LA, Landowners

Undertake humane mink control as a conservation tool where they threaten water vole populations

Ongoing

EA

EA, LWT, Landowners, LVRPA

Ensure the use of rodenticides in areas supporting water voles is avoided by providing leaflets and advice

Ongoing

LBBF

LA

Ensure that reviews of LEAPs take account of strategic habitat enhancement projects focused on expanding water vole populations

As reviewed

EA

LA, EN, LWT

Produce best practice guidelines tailored to the following priority audiences: landowners, developers, graziers, planners, angling clubs and pest control

2003

LWT

GLA, LA, EA, EN

Objective 3 Facilitate recolonisation of a number of past sites and establish populations at suitable new sites

Target: Carry out the reintroduction of the species in at least three suitable sites by 2005

 

Action

Target Date

Lead

Other Partners

Identify historic sites in addition to current sites

2003

LWT

EA, LA, LNHS, GLA

Identify at least 3 sites suitable for reintroduction

2003

LWT

EA, LA, TEP

Ensure sympathetic land management is in practice on suitable sites

2004

EN

EA, LWT, GLA, LA

Carry out reintroduction on at least 3 sites with suitable publicity

2005

EA

WWT, LWT, LA

Relevant Action Plans

London Plans

Tidal Thames; Canals; Grazing Marsh and Floodplain grassland; Marshland; Reedbed; Ponds, lakes and reservoirs.

National Plans

Water Vole; Chalk Rivers; Rivers and Streams Habitat Statement; Canals Habitat Statement; Fens, Carr, Marsh, Swamp and Reedbed Habitat Statement.

 

Key References

London Mammal Group (1998). Greater London Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris) Survey. London.

Strachan, C, Strachan R & Jefferies, DJ (2000). Preliminary Report on the changes in the water vole population of Britain as shown by the National Surveys of 1989-90 and 1996-98. VWT, London.

Strachan R (1998). Water Vole Conservation Handbook. EA, WildCRU, EN Oxford.

UK Water Vole Steering Group (1997). Species Action Plan for the UK: Water Vole, Arvicola terrestris EA.

Abbreviations

EA – Environment Agency
EN – English Nature
GLA – Greater London Authority
LA – Local Authorities
LBBF – London Borough Biodiversity Forum
LNHS – London Natural History Society

LVRPA – Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
LWT - London Wildlife Trust
RSPB – Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
TEP – Thames Estuary Partnership
WWT - Wildfowl and Wetland Trust

Contact

The Lead for this species is Environment Agency.

Rob Strachan
Environment Agency
Swift House

Tel 01189 535556
Email [email protected]
web www.environment-agency.gov.uk

water vole © Andy Fisher

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