Water Vole Habitat Enhancement

The Project

The Rothen Group achieved this through installation of new preplanted coir rolls and relocation of existing reeds to create better connectivity for water voles. 

Dredging of lock pounds was carried out to facilitate boat access and to enable the installation of coir rolls. The reeds surrounding weirs were then translocated to the space between the wall and the location where the coir rolls were installed.

Hazel bundles were installed as a natural foundation, with pre-planted coir rolls placed ontop. Timber posts were positioned at half-metre intervals, both in front of and behind the coir rolls, to provide stability for the newly created soft bank. Galvanised steel wire was then attached to the timber posts and wrapped around the coir rolls to further support the formation of the soft bank.

The coir rolls are planted with a range of native plant species, ideal of water vole feeding and nesting.

In some case the coir rolls were installed along existing hard banks where vegetation was unlikely to establish naturally (brick walls) whilst in other areas there were ‘stepping stones’ of coir rolls used along both banks to connect areas ofsuitable water vole habitat.