AN ONGOING project to reintroduce water voles back to Hampshire has taken another step forward with the release of 300 voles into the River Meon.

The move follows a successful release of 450 voles at Titchfield Haven last year.

Affectionately known as ‘Ratty’ through Kenneth Grahame’s classic book Wind in the Willows, water voles used to be a common sight along our rivers, but habitat loss and predation by mink have decimated populations, causing water voles to decline by 97 per cent since 1990.

Taking account that there had been no sightings of water voles in the River Meon for at least five years, a partnership was formed between South Downs National Park Authority, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency, Natural England and Hampshire County Council in order to enable the return of the much loved Ratty to our waterways.

Ali Morse, water policy and projects manager at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, explained how vital water voles are for our eco-system, saying: “The Meon’s lush riverbanks still provide ideal habitat, so action has focussed on controlling American mink, which are particularly voracious predators, and are thought to be the main factor that caused voles to be wiped out from the valley.

“The help of landowners and fishermen has been crucial in monitoring and removing mink in preparation for Ratty’s return, with nearly 50 sites used to detect the presence of these damaging, nonnative predators.

“Voles are a key part of wetland communities. They play an important role in dispersal of the wetland plants that they feed on, and themselves provide a food source for other species such as otter, and birds of prey.

“Mink control paves the way for their return, which will be beneficial to the local ecosystem, as well as being welcomed by the community who are hugely excited about seeing water voles return to their local river”.

This year the releases will be concentrated on the lower part of the valley. In a phased programme, sites at 5-10km intervals along the river will be used as release sites which the partners hope will see the re-establishment of voles right throughout the valley.

The next release is scheduled for July.

Visitors to the canal that runs alongside Titchfield Haven may now be lucky enough to spot voles munching away at the riverside plants along the footpath.

Elsewhere in the county, look out for water voles at Winnall Moors near Winchester, on the Itchen Navigation, and at Chilbolton Common on the Test.