Voles thriving in their new home in Avon Valley after transfer from Salisbury

AN operation to transfer a community of water voles from Salisbury to the River Avon on the edge of the New Forest has been hailed a success.

The colony was put into the water meadows of the river on the Bisterne estate, south of Ringwood, and researchers saying they are now thriving in their new home.

There are now plans to release another 50 voles into the area next summer.

As a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, the water vole population needed to be removed before work started on Salisbury's River Park flood defences, along with a regeneration scheme.

An area of the Avon Valley south of Ringwood was identified as being ideal for the voles' new home

Organised by the Environment Agency (EA), the transfer in July was carried out by the Fordingbridge-based Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) which said the voles are thriving and attracting other kinds of animals to the area too.

The Salisbury colony numbered only 12, so another 50 captive-bred creatures were added to them and all are reported to be doing well.

It is excellent news for the trust which said loss of natural habitats and predators has led to the population of Britain's largest vole decreasing by over 90%

But the Bisterne moles are doing well, thanks to the estate's gamekeeper Ruper Bewer and wetlands ecologist Lizzie Grayshon from the GWCT creating the "perfect home".

To prepare for the creatures' arrival a huge area of willow and debris was cleared from 3,440 metres of the herringbone system of drainage ditches, aiding water flow and encouraging wetland plants such as reeds, rushes and sedges.

That meant the new water vole population had access to vital food and shelter.