Water voles are the UK’s fastest declining mammal, due to habitat loss and predation by the non-native American mink. In 2007, Essex Wildlife Trust launched the Essex Water Vole Recovery Project to ensure the water vole would not be lost in Essex. The Roding and West Essex cluster are working with Essex wildlife trust, with 8 mink traps in place currently and more planned in the river and tributaries of the Roding. Farmers and the Trust are collaborating to create a safe environment, where water voles may be re-introduced and one day thrive.
Thanks to funding from the Environment Agency Water Environment Improvement Fund, The Roding and West Essex Farm Cluster are working with Essex Wildlife Trust and Thames21, with 20 mink traps in place in the river and tributaries of the Roding
