Boost for water voles in Llanelli
Letting the grass grow has led to a new home for endangered water voles in Llanelli.
The population of the species has declined by over 90 per cent in the UK, but they are hanging on in the ditches and wetland areas around Llanelli.
A partnership of organisations – Carmarthenshire County Council, the Countryside Council for Wales and Environment Agency Wales - are working together in the Llanelli area to help one of the most endangered mammals in the UK.
Loss and fragmentation of their habitat have been significant causes of their decline and now water voles and their habitat are protected by law.
Recently, there were signs of water vole burrows at an unexpected site in the grassland alongside Delta Lakes, adjacent to the A484.
The grassland is managed by the council and is regularly mown. However the best solution to help the water voles was to stop mowing the grass alongside the lake. This will allow a habitat to form that will help the water voles and provide them with valuable feeding habitat and cover.
The Environment Agency will further help their habitat by installing reed mats along the shoreline, which will also improve the visual appearance of the lake edge.
Marker posts will be installed along the edge of the cut area so that council mowers and the public know that the area needs special management and is important for wildlife.
Council Biodiversity Officer Isabel Macho said: “This is a good example of a simple action that can have a significant conservation benefit.
“We are so lucky to have this captivating mammal in Carmarthenshire, which is part of a rich diversity of species and habitats in the county, and we need to work with land managers and owners, developers and the public to help ensure that it survives.”
Gerwyn Thomas, the council’s Assistant Grounds Maintenance Manager, said: “We are always happy to help out with conservation management where we can.
“The council has a duty to think about biodiversity impacts in all our work and grassland management is one area where we are working together to see where we can make effective changes to help biodiversity.”
There is a good population of water voles at the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust centre at Penclacwydd where additional habitat has been created for them.
Across the road at Morfa Berwick ditches have been cleared, and ponds created to help the water voles there.
Improved public access here has provided a waterside walk with the chance to see and hear lots of wildlife close to Bynea.
The population of the species has declined by over 90 per cent in the UK, but they are hanging on in the ditches and wetland areas around Llanelli.
A partnership of organisations – Carmarthenshire County Council, the Countryside Council for Wales and Environment Agency Wales - are working together in the Llanelli area to help one of the most endangered mammals in the UK.
Loss and fragmentation of their habitat have been significant causes of their decline and now water voles and their habitat are protected by law.
Recently, there were signs of water vole burrows at an unexpected site in the grassland alongside Delta Lakes, adjacent to the A484.
The grassland is managed by the council and is regularly mown. However the best solution to help the water voles was to stop mowing the grass alongside the lake. This will allow a habitat to form that will help the water voles and provide them with valuable feeding habitat and cover.
The Environment Agency will further help their habitat by installing reed mats along the shoreline, which will also improve the visual appearance of the lake edge.
Marker posts will be installed along the edge of the cut area so that council mowers and the public know that the area needs special management and is important for wildlife.
Council Biodiversity Officer Isabel Macho said: “This is a good example of a simple action that can have a significant conservation benefit.
“We are so lucky to have this captivating mammal in Carmarthenshire, which is part of a rich diversity of species and habitats in the county, and we need to work with land managers and owners, developers and the public to help ensure that it survives.”
Gerwyn Thomas, the council’s Assistant Grounds Maintenance Manager, said: “We are always happy to help out with conservation management where we can.
“The council has a duty to think about biodiversity impacts in all our work and grassland management is one area where we are working together to see where we can make effective changes to help biodiversity.”
There is a good population of water voles at the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust centre at Penclacwydd where additional habitat has been created for them.
Across the road at Morfa Berwick ditches have been cleared, and ponds created to help the water voles there.
Improved public access here has provided a waterside walk with the chance to see and hear lots of wildlife close to Bynea.
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