The Duchy of Cornwall and Lost Gardens of Heligan re-introduce water voles for the first time to help restore an historic ecosystem

This month, eighty water voles were released by the Duchy of Cornwall, in partnership with Keep It Wild Trust, as part of a significant investment programme to enhance the River Fowey’s wetland corridor in Restormel.

The release is part of a wider project to re-introduce water voles, which have been a rare species in Cornwall since their extinction in the region in the 1990s. Since 2022, the programme has implemented measures including diverting and bunding drainage channels, that have created larger and deeper more permanent pools along the historic channels of the River Fowey. Recent habitat studies show that these enhanced wetland features have rapidly become botanically richer, forming the ideal water vole habitat.

It was also the sight of water voles on the River Fowey that inspired Kenneth Graeme’s beloved Ratty in Wind in the Willows.

Jeremy Clitherow, Senior Future Farming Advisor at the Duchy of Cornwall explains the importance of the water vole to the river: “The Duchy of Cornwall is delighted to be a part of the reintroduction of water voles in the area, this is an important first step in restoring this ancient landscape and a first for the Duchy. Water voles are important mini-ecosystem engineers. Their existence impacts soil and plant biodiversity around their burrows and riverbanks. They move nutrients around, bringing some to the surface, improving soil health and helping plants to grow. Above ground, their eating habits can help shape the ecosystem - their grazing helps control vegetation growth, making room for wildflowers and other native grasses to grow around the water banks”.

Last week also saw the release of 120 water voles at The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Releases took place different locations across the iconic estate, including Heligan’s beaver enclosure and Lost Valley. Working alongside Derek Gow Consultancy, initial surveys were undertaken at Heligan to determine the suitability of habitat for the voles along with American Mink (Neogale vison) monitoring. Luckily, no mink were seen and the habitat through the Lost Valley was deemed favourable for water voles. Moreover, the release of the beavers to Heligan in 2023, meant that they have also created idyllic habitat for the voles.

Toby Davies Wildlife Coordinator at Heligan said: “With initial habitat surveys suggesting that water voles once resided on the Heligan Estate, we are immensely proud to be a part of this project and hope to see the species thrive after their release for future generations to come”.

Derek Gow from Keep It Wild Trust said: “As a small mammal at the base of the food chain, the water vole supports a wider food web of other species including many terrestrial and aquatic predators such as owls, kestrel, stoat and pike. American Mink can exclude them from water edge environments but a recent year- long monitoring programme has found no evidence of this species in the surrounding environments of Restormel.”

The re-introduction of water voles to these rivers is the first phase of this programme, further releases are planned in the spring of 2025.

Photo: credit Duchy of Cornwall/PR4Photos