In an effort to revitalize local wetlands, dozens of water voles have been reintroduced into the wild in Cornwall. The Duchy of Cornwall has released 80 water voles into the River Fowey at Restormel as part of a conservation initiative.
Once abundant in the region, water voles have faced a steep decline, and they were declared extinct in Cornwall during the 1990s. However, thanks to habitat restoration efforts that began in 2022, the river’s larger and deeper pools have created an ideal environment for the rodents, England’s fastest-declining mammal.
Jeremy Clitherow, a senior advisor at the Duchy of Cornwall, described the release as a key step in restoring the natural landscape. “Water voles play an essential role as mini-ecosystem engineers,” he explained.
These animals not only influence soil and plant biodiversity around their burrows, but they also help redistribute nutrients, enhancing soil quality and promoting plant growth. “Their grazing habits can control vegetation, allowing wildflowers and native grasses to flourish along riverbanks,” Clitherow added.
In addition to the River Fowey release, 120 more water voles were recently introduced at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, near Mevagissey. The duchy has plans for further reintroductions in the spring of next year.