Endangered water voles in Langdale Forest, near Pickering, are set to benefit from work to dam woodland watercourses and remove conifers from the species’ streamside haunts.
The Forestry Commission has linked up with the North York Moors National Park Authority and National Trust to extend habitat creation work, funded by £24,000 from an Environment Agency scheme to improve water quality.
Water voles – beloved as Ratty in Wind in the Willows – were once commonplace, but the escape of predatory mink into the British countryside and fewer suitable habitats saw their fortunes collapse. Now they are now on the critical list and Langdale Forest and the eastern moors may be their only haven in the North York Moors National Park.
However, the future could be looking brighter.
Brian Walker, Forestry Commission Wildlife Officer, explained:
“Water voles are thought of as a creature of lowland river streams, not upland moors and forest like Langdale. One theory is that they sought refuge from highly predatory mink in rivers like the Esk and Derwent. But it could be that they've been here all along and no one thought to look until they were found in the 1980s. So far we have identified around half a dozen sites, with a couple more in nearby Sneaton Forest. It’s a very important colony and over the years we have been tweaking the environment to its advantage.”
The latest work aims to improve water quality by reducing sediment and creating the kind of clean pools the creature loves. But the work will also help other wildlife, including fish.
Ami Walker, North York Moors National Park Authority’s Agri-Environment Officer, commented:
“This project is a great example of the benefits working in partnership can bring. By pooling resources, knowledge and expertise we can begin to make a real difference to the wildlife and habitats of the North York Moors National Park.”
Environment Agency officer Allison Pierre said:
“This is an important project which has helped to boost the quality of the water in the streams, and we are delighted to have been able to help fund it. Our rivers are the healthiest for 20 years, but we are doing even more to improve water quality and biodiversity. By reducing the sediment in these forest streams, we can encourage fish, water voles and other wildlife to thrive.”
Another positive development for ratty could be the return of the otter. It seems they do not tolerate the presence of mink, although no-one quite knows the mechanics of the frosty relationship.
“Fewer mink may allow water voles to branch out again. That would be very good news to prevent the fragmentation of the species,” adds Brian Walker.
