Endangered Water Voles Reintroduced to Surrey Reserve
Efforts underway to re-establish the locally extinct species along the River Wey.
Thirty endangered water voles have been released onto a 16-hectare reserve at Thundry Meadows in Surrey as part of an initiative to reintroduce the species to the River Wey catchment. The release marks a significant step in efforts to restore the aquatic rodent population, which has been locally extinct for decades.
Organizers hope the voles will adapt and establish themselves widely across the upper stretches of the Wey. The return of the water vole is expected to benefit other species that rely on healthy wetland habitats, such as herons and birds of prey.
David Elliott, National Trust lead ranger for the South Downs West, expressed optimism about the reintroduction, stating, "Nature wins when we work together." He added, "It's so encouraging to see the water voles returning after all this time, they have been locally extinct for decades. The return of this enchanting species adds a missing piece to this jigsaw."
The reintroduction effort is a collaborative project involving the National Trust, the River Wey Trust, and the South East Rivers Trust, all working towards the common goal of bringing back this vital species to the local ecosystem. The trust anticipates that the voles will "adapt easily to life on the 16-hectare reserve at Thundry Meadows and establish widely across the top of the Wey catchment" over the coming months.