Page 13 - BBOWT Annual Review 2017-18

Local water voles buck the national trend

Partnerships help us achieve more. The River Misbourne
habitat improvement project saw BBOWT work with
the Wild Trout Trust, Environment Agency, Groundwork
South and the local council for the benefit of river wildlife.

Brown trout and water voles were just two of the many
species to benefit from the completion of the project
to open up a section of the river upstream from its
confluence with the River Colne.

Local volunteers cut back overhanging trees so more
light can reach the banks where grasses, reeds and other
vegetation will provide food and cover for water voles.
These favourable conditions could see the local water
vole population extend downstream to link up with a
population on the nearby River Chess.

Work like this is core to our Water Vole Recovery Project, 200km 400
which has helped local water vole activity increase by
78% over the past 10 years, in contrast to a declining Length of watercourses Number of surveys
picture nationally. surveyed for water vole activity carried out

The cut branches and other vegetation were then used to
reinstate riverbanks and recreate the Misbourne’s original
winding flow. This has narrowed the river, speeding up
its flow to wash away the silt that had prevented brown
trout from spawning. As the river bends around the new
banks it will form pools where trout can live and insects
such as mayflies and dragonflies can breed.

Rob Mungovan, Conservation Officer at the Wild Trout 603km2 78%
Trust said: “Partnership working can be the key to
success on rivers as so many people use and enjoy them.” Local key areas of water Increase in local
vole activity, up 4% on the water vole activity
The team involved in the project also created a gravel previous year in the last 10 years
‘beach’ for visitors to the Colne Valley Visitor Centre to go
river-dipping and discover the incredible aquatic life.

Annual Review 2017/2018 | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust 13