Wetlands and Water Voles on the River Fleet

A three phase project to restore water vole to a 5.5 km stretch of the river Fleet. Funds will be used to carryout a baseline survey and prioritise areas for habitat work, carryout five projects to improve areas of habitat, this work will be identified by the survey but will include work such as improving areas of wet grassland and bank-side re-profiling. The project includes a small education element, leaflet production and guided walks in order to increase awareness of the water vole in the local area. The survey will also record otter and water shrew presence. If otters are present practical work may include the construction of an otter holt as a strong otter presence is though to have an impact on mink populations (a threat to water vole)

All work is designed to help conserve the water vole, a UK BAP priority species.