Marking Progress

• Number of sites supporting colonies of Water Vole
• Size of colonies of Water Voles
• Sites under conservation management for Water Vole

Roles:

Land and waterbody owners and managers:  follow best practice in managing rivers and streams, their banks, and open water and wetlands to support water vole.

Wildlife conservation bodies: give advice and provide practical support for habitat management fr water vole.

Barnsley Council as planning authority:

• takes into consideration records of Water Vole presence in the planning process and ensures Water Voles are protected
• sets conditions in relevant planning applications to ensure that relevant habitats are maintained and enhanced

Natural England:has Standing Advice on the protection of Water Vole and issues appropriate licences

Voluntary groups and volunteers:

• help with surveys and provide records of sightings and signs of Water Vole
• help with information about the condition of sites that support Water Vole
• help with measures to support Water Vole, eg: habitat management.

What is being done?

• Surveys for Water Vole distribution
• Dearne, Parkhill, moorland fringe
• River Dearne 2006
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• Riparian Mammal Project NIA YWT 2012-15
• Habitat improvements for Water Vole
• Parkhill nature reserve. BMBC, BBT
• Sandybridge Dike. YW, EA, YWT…
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Proposed actions

• Publicity on status and measures to conserve Water Vole
• Provide advice on measures to increase the numbers and distribution of Water Vole
• Analysis of existing and historic records:
• Further surveys of known sites and of areas where previously recorded
• Advice on Mink control in targeted areas.
• Further habitat improvement for Water Vole including Bulling Dike

Water Vole: Action Plan

What we want to achieve - Key objectives

• Raise awareness of the need to maintain and extend Water Vole populations and encourage participation in their conservation
• Carry out surveys*, record signs and sightings of Water Vole, and submit records to the Barnsley Biological Record Centre
• Determine Water Vole populations and distribution across Barnsley
• Review the extent and condition of riparian habitat for Water Vole.
• Restore, improve and maintain suitable habitats for Water Vole and take steps to keep them safe, including from Mink predation
• Create links and corridors between appropriate sites with a view to reducing the distance between existing populations.
• Designate sites with colonies of Water Vole as Local Wildlife Sites

* at established sites and potential new sites