Voles in the Uplands

Water voles were once a common sight along the banks of our rivers, streams, canals, ditches, dykes, lakes and ponds throughout mainland Britain.

Unfortunately through man's influence the water vole has been subject to habitat loss and degredation, causing fragmentation and isolation of water vole poulations, this coupled with the introduction of the predatory non-native American mink has had a devastating effect on water vole populations.

This decline has been so worryingly dramatic that it has led to the water vole being listed as an animal protected under both ethe Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and the countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000). Under this legislation the water vole and its habitat are now fully protected but is it too little too late for water voles in Brecknock?

In 2009 with funding generously provided by Environment Wales, Brecknock Wildlife Trust set out to find if there were any water voles left in Brecknock. The results of our survey are found in the Executive Summary below. The full report is also available in English and Welsh.

Executive Summary - English

Executive Summary - Cymraeg

Full report - English

Full report - Cymraeg

Appendices - English

Appendices - Cymraeg