Water voles are being reintroduced to the river Wey as part of a scheme to restore the species after its local extinction.
Almost 200 water voles have been released across Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire along the River Wey, in an effort to bring them back to an area where they have not been seen for around 20 years.
The project, led by the National Trust and the Environment Agency, saw dozens more voles returned to the Haslemere area on last month.
David Elliott, National Trust lead ranger for the South Downs West, said: “They are a really dynamic species. They live fast and die young, and they are constantly breeding and everything is always on the move.”
He added: “I remember seeing the last of them about 25 years ago. After that the only ones within miles of her was stuffed and in a display case.
“It’s a real moment of celebration and I couldn’t be happier about seeing the species come back.”
Groups of sibling voles were placed in habitat boxes along the River Wey, with small openings so they could come and go while becoming accustomed to their surroundings.
After a few days, the lids on the boxes were lifted to allow the animals to explore freely and begin nesting in the area.
It is hoped that the repopulation effort will see water voles return to the River Wey in greater numbers over time, with 192 released so far.
Numbers have been in sharp decline since 2000, with populations in England falling by 93% during the 20th century.
Volunteer Bryony Chapman, a member of the Black Down and Hindhead Supporters of the National Trust, added: “I’m so pleased to be part of it. Water voles aren’t just lovely animals, they’re important to the whole ecosystem.”
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At Natural World Fund, we are passionate about restoring habitats in the UK to halt the decline in our wildlife.
