Water voles are seriously under threat across Britain, being the fastest declining mammal in the country. The Chilterns is no exception; between 2001 and 2003 the local population crashed by 97% due to predation by mink and habitat loss. The
Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), the
Environment Agency and the
Chilterns Chalk Streams Project are working to reverse this decline and Impress the Chess is playing its parts. Part of the work of Impress the Chess is to improve river habitats for water voles in Chesham.
Thanks to the many projects across the Chilterns, water vole populations are beginning to recover. The 2009 survey found an estimated 300 voles along the river, which is a threefold increase since the last survey in 2007. Most excitingly for us, water voles were recorded in southern Chesham in both 2007 and 2009. However, there have been mink sightings in close proximity to this colony, so local landowners who have been working with the conservation organisations to trap the feral mink are urged to remain vigilant to protect our resident voles.