Green Corridors for Water Vole Conservation

Event details

Join the St Nicks team for a guided walk and learn about our furry friends, water voles. Find out about their ecology, habitat and identification as you take a walk along the River Foss (a known water vole location). The team will show you how they survey for the semi aquatic mammal and explain why it’s more important than ever to support this fascinating species.

Water voles are vulnerable to extinction in Britain and are Endangered in England. Once found across our waterways, water voles are now thought to have been lost from 94 per cent of their original range. This is due to predation of American mink and habitat modification. However, the story of the water vole is not over and there is much hope for the voles.

Conservation efforts have led to successful reintroduction programmes and riverbank improvement schemes are restoring and reconnecting habitats. In many areas, control measures are in place for mink, making water courses safe for water voles again.

On the walk, your guides will tell you where to find water voles, what they eat, what they look like, surveying methods and what to do if you do spot one. Come along and have a chat about what St Nicks has been doing to support water vole populations across the city through its Green Corridors York project and find out how to get involved yourself.        

Suitable for ages 8+.

Starting point: Meet at the footbridge on Huntington Road (YO31 9BS) next to the Yearsley Grove bus stop, what3words.com/ twist.curl.senses. 

Please note: The route is along the footpath next to the river Foss and sturdy footwear is recommended as the footpath can be muddy.

Find out more about St Nicks and the Green Corridors York project.

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