Eppleton to Rainton Water Vole Corridor

The water vole is now thought to be Britain’s most threatened mammal. This project aims to improve the habitat between existing populations between Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Hetton Lyons and Great Eppleton. This will not only allow these populations to expand and numbers increase but also connecting these populations strengthens the metapopulation structure that water voles live in, thus helping to ensure that water voles continue to thrive in this area. Habitat improvements will include the installation of two sluice systems at Rainton Meadows to allow us to control the water levels on site and into the stream that links the site to Hetton. Scrub and tree removal along several sections will allow ground flora to develop providing water voles with food and shelter from predators. Food availability will be enhanced by cut and rakes and planting of more suitable water vole food plants.

Please see sheet.