Water Voles Protection
Water vole surveys and mitigation are a very important part of The Ecology Consultancy’s work. We have considerable experience on small and large projects for clients throughout the UK and have water vole specialists in all our offices. Please contact our regional office in Norwich for surveys in East Anglia and East Midlands; in Lewes for the South East and surrounding counties, in Edinburgh for the North, or our Head Office in London for the rest of the UK.
The largest of the four British vole species, the water vole is legally protected in the UK under schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The Ecology Consultancy offers advice on water vole conservation and protection, adhering to the precise survey and mitigation guidelines from Natural England.
Water voles have undergone the most dramatic and serious decline of any British mammal during the 20th Century. Now absent from Devon and Cornwall, their distribution throughout their current range is patchy, though they can be locally common. Introduction of the American mink has been a major cause of their decline, in addition to the destruction of their habitat.
Our experts regularly work on practical projects to conserve and restore water vole populations. Water voles are found in slow flowing rivers, streams, ditches and around lakes, reed-beds, marshes and ponds with relatively steep banks, usually in rural areas.
The largest of the four British vole species, the water vole is legally protected in the UK under schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The Ecology Consultancy offers advice on water vole conservation and protection, adhering to the precise survey and mitigation guidelines from Natural England.
Water voles have undergone the most dramatic and serious decline of any British mammal during the 20th Century. Now absent from Devon and Cornwall, their distribution throughout their current range is patchy, though they can be locally common. Introduction of the American mink has been a major cause of their decline, in addition to the destruction of their habitat.
Our experts regularly work on practical projects to conserve and restore water vole populations. Water voles are found in slow flowing rivers, streams, ditches and around lakes, reed-beds, marshes and ponds with relatively steep banks, usually in rural areas.
The Law
Water voles are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Water voles are protected against intentional killing, capture or injury and intentional or reckless disturbance, obstruction, damage or destruction or their burrows. If water voles or their burrows are found after works start, all works must stop immediately to avoid breaking the law.
Only ecologists licensed to survey for water voles may handle them.
Breaking the law can lead to fines of up to £5,000 per offence and/or potential prison sentences of up to six months. Damaging any habitat that contains a water vole or its burrow can lead to prosecution. Vehicles implicated in an offence can be compounded and both the company and/or the individual(s) concerned, can be held liable.
Water voles are now on the national Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority list, and local authorities and other public bodies have a legal duty to take their conservation into account.
Only ecologists licensed to survey for water voles may handle them.
Breaking the law can lead to fines of up to £5,000 per offence and/or potential prison sentences of up to six months. Damaging any habitat that contains a water vole or its burrow can lead to prosecution. Vehicles implicated in an offence can be compounded and both the company and/or the individual(s) concerned, can be held liable.
Water voles are now on the national Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority list, and local authorities and other public bodies have a legal duty to take their conservation into account.
Expert Water Vole Consultants
Development sites likely to be inhabited by water voles must be surveyed and mitigation projects that require trapping can only be managed by licensed ecologists. Our ecologists can advise on all aspects of water vole conservation from survey timings, riparian management and mitigation and have a lot of experience in this area, working with a range of clients.
Projects we have worked on in the past include:
- Extensive water vole survey and EIA for Costain and the Environment Agency at Bidston Moss
- Water vole surveying and mink monitoring for Skanska Balfour Beatty along sections of the M25 in advance of and during widening
- Water vole survey and recommendations for a ditch in the Thames Gateway to DP World during pipe construction and habitat manipulation for DP World involving strimming banks to encourage the water voles to migrate
Water Vole Survey and Mitigation
Water vole surveys are conducted between March and September and look for field signs such as burrows, droppings, feeding stations, runs and footprints. Water voles generally live in burrows can extend up to 2m of water’s edge, near or below the water-line. Females may create “lawns” of grazed vegetation around their burrows; this usually indicates young are present. Although mainly active during the day, they are shy and rarely seen. They are active all year round, but they are markedly less active during the winter.
From specific surveying projects over a small area for a developer, to mitigation projects and habitat manipulation with infrastructure companies, we have the experience and enthusiasm to help you ensure your water vole survey is completed efficiently. We follow all relevant good practice guidelines and are pragmatic in our approach.
From specific surveying projects over a small area for a developer, to mitigation projects and habitat manipulation with infrastructure companies, we have the experience and enthusiasm to help you ensure your water vole survey is completed efficiently. We follow all relevant good practice guidelines and are pragmatic in our approach.
Working with Water Voles
Due to their scarcity and vulnerability, a conservation licence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) is required to handle or translocate water voles. It is essential that all potential water vole habitats are fully surveyed prior to planning consent being given to avoid the risk of fines.
The Ecology Consultancy works regularly on water vole conservation, habitat manipulation and mitigation strategies. We have a number of ecologists that have previously held Natural England licences to handle water voles and who are fully trained in survey and mitigation techniques.
The Ecology Consultancy works regularly on water vole conservation, habitat manipulation and mitigation strategies. We have a number of ecologists that have previously held Natural England licences to handle water voles and who are fully trained in survey and mitigation techniques.
About Us
Our client base is broad and includes local authorities, infrastructure engineers, utility companies, planning consultants, architects and private developers. We have been involved in small and large property development projects, working closely with all agencies involved. As experienced wildlife consultants, we are used to dealing with all legal and commercial issues surrounding protected species.
We guarantee you a high quality service, with a strong focus on our clients. We are happy to give free initial advice and can provide robust fee-quotes. We provide timely, high quality reports of our work to all stakeholders.
We guarantee you a high quality service, with a strong focus on our clients. We are happy to give free initial advice and can provide robust fee-quotes. We provide timely, high quality reports of our work to all stakeholders.
Case study:
Water Vole Survey
As part of the Bidston Moss Viaduct works along the M53, The Ecology Consultancy carried out water vole surveys at two locations.
More on thisecological case study
