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Species
Action Plans
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Water Vole
(Arvicola terrestris)
Habitat
Freshwater ponds
Ditches
Reedbeds
Water Vole on the Greatham Site
The accompanying
map (PDF) shows the areas on site populated
by Water Vole. Some of the ponds and ditches have breeding, resident,
Water Vole, whereas others are suitable for Water Vole but have non-resident
individuals or no individuals. Some of the ponds and ditches on site
are unsuitable for Water vole, as they are saline. One of the ditches
on site has been highlighted as an area for possible improvement, as
the habitat is suitable but there are currently no Water Voles using
it.
Status in UK and Europe
Water Vole are widespread in Britain but there is a serious decline
in numbers and distribution. The British population is estimated
at 1,200,000 animals.
Local Status
Under-recorded. Known on Marton West Beck and Coatham Marsh NR. Breeding
on Greenabella Marsh.
Objectives for Water Vole on the Greatham Site
- Assess the current level of Water Vole on the Greatham
site.
- Improve water Vole habitat in certain areas.
- Extend the range
of Water Vole over the site.
Management Plan for Water Vole on the Greatham Site
- Continue monitoring of Water Vole on site, to assess the current
distribution, and to highlight any increases in distribution on site.
- Undertake habitat management to ensure that suitable habitat which
is currently un-used by Water Vole, can be made more readily usable,
to increase the distribution of Water Vole across the site.
- The following management ideas were suggested by Physalia, and
would hopefully achieve the above objective of increasing the distribution
of Water Vole across the site:
- Shallow earthen weirs with drain pipes installed through them,
to prevent over-topping, placed in some of the overgrown drains
to raise the water levels. The increase in open water would favour
voles and extend existing ‘vole corridors’.
- Controlled /managed clearing of overgrown sections of existing
drains, with selective removal of vigorous, dominant plant species
e.g. Typha latifolia. This is particularly important for
the northernmost drain on the site, which has been marked ‘area
for possible improvement’ on the accompanying
map (PDF).
- Selective planting of native willow species (local Salix
alba and S. fragilis varieties) along the margins of
some of the water bodies. This simple measure stabilises banks
for vole burrows. More importantly, annual pollarding, close to
ground level, provides a ready supply of new willow bark. This
can be an invaluable food source for over-wintering vole populations
and would directly reduce winter mortality.
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