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We have been working in partnership with a range of conservation organisations to bring back the water vole to the River Thaw and save this critically endangered species from extinction.
With the help of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW), South East Wales Rivers Trust (SEWRT), Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru (INCC), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Vale Local Nature Partnership (LNP), we have released over 200 captive bred Water voles along the River Thaw.
Once common in Wales, water voles have declined by 90% due to habitat loss, pollution, and predation by invasive American mink. With numbers too low for natural recovery, a reintroduction was essential.
After four years of habitat restoration and mink control, captive-bred voles from NRW’s Cynrig hatchery and a Devon facility were released in August 2024. They acclimatised in temporary pens before being set free, with hopes they will breed and repopulate the River Thaw.
As part of the Restore the Thaw project, we’ve trained local volunteers to identify and record signs of water vole activity. These volunteers now lead a community-driven monitoring effort to track the water voles' progress after their release.
We have been working in partnership with a range of conservation organisations to bring back the water vole to the River Thaw and save this critically endangered species from extinction.
With the help of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW), South East Wales Rivers Trust (SEWRT), Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru (INCC), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Vale Local Nature Partnership (LNP), we have released over 200 captive bred Water voles along the River Thaw.
Once common in Wales, water voles have declined by 90% due to habitat loss, pollution, and predation by invasive American mink. With numbers too low for natural recovery, a reintroduction was essential.
After four years of habitat restoration and mink control, captive-bred voles from NRW’s Cynrig hatchery and a Devon facility were released in August 2024. They acclimatised in temporary pens before being set free, with hopes they will breed and repopulate the River Thaw.
As part of the Restore the Thaw project, we’ve trained local volunteers to identify and record signs of water vole activity. These volunteers now lead a community-driven monitoring effort to track the water voles' progress after their release.
After four years of habitat restoration and mink control, captive-bred voles from NRW’s Cynrig hatchery and a Devon facility were released in August 2024. They acclimatised in temporary pens before being set free, with hopes they will breed and repopulate the River Thaw.