Coventry
Water Vole Project 2011
Volunteer days took place over the summer
for the fourth year in a row with the aim of improving riverside
habitat for water voles and other native wildlife along
watercourses in Coventry. This is a joint project between the
Trust and Coventry City Council.
Water voles are Britain's most severely
threatened mammal and numbers have declined by as much as 95% in
Warwickshire in recent years. If we don't do something to help,
then this charismatic riverside animal will become extinct within
our lifetimes.
By controlling the non-native and highly
invasive plant Himalayan balsam and replanting some areas with
native 'water vole friendly' wetland plants, the aim has been to
improve this riverside habitat for water voles and encouraging a
greater diversity of species to flourish. Water vole surveys also
took place as part of the Trust's ongoing survey and monitoring
programme. Please get in touch for more information
on surveying opportunities.
Eight volunteer days were run
between the Trust and Council during June at Lake View Park (River
Sherbourne), Brookside Avenue (Guphill Brook) and Longford
Park (River Sowe).
A total of 95 volunteers gave
up their time to help with the project - surveying approximately
1.5km of river for water voles, planting native wetland plugs and
removing over 250 black bags worth of Himalayan balsam! Thank
you very much to all who helped with the project this
year.
For more information, please contact Tim
Haselden, Wetlands Living Landscape Officer on 024 7630 8995 or
email tim.haselden@wkwt.org.uk.
The Trust gratefully acknowledges the
generous support of Debenhams Coventry for this project from the
sale of carrier bags in-store.
