This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
    • Politics
    • Transport
    • Lifestyle
    • Community
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Education
    • Harrogate
    • Ripon
    • Knaresborough
    • Boroughbridge
    • Pateley Bridge
    • Masham
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Latest Jobs

Interested in advertising with us?

Advertise with us

  • News & Features
  • Your Area
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Latest Jobs
  • Politics
  • Transport
  • Lifestyle
  • Community
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Education
Advertise with us
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Latest News

We want to hear from you

Tell us your opinions and views on what we cover

Contact us
Connect with us
  • About us
  • Advertise your job
  • Correction and complaints
Download on App StoreDownload on Google Play Store
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Statement
  • Comments Participation T&Cs
Trust In Journalism

Copyright © 2020 The Stray Ferret Ltd, All Rights Reserved

Site by Show + Tell

Thank you for your interest in this story

To continue reading this article, subscribe to the Stray Ferret for as little as £1 a week

    Already a subscriber? Log in here.

    07

    Sept 2020

    Last Updated: 07/09/2020
    Nidderdale
    Nidderdale

    New home for water voles in Nidderdale

    by Newsroom

    | 07 Sept, 2020
    Comment

    0

    With water voles thought to be one of the fastest-declining species of mammal in the UK, more than 100 will be released into woodland in Nidderdale in a drive to boost local populations.

    6052025629_6953dd2bdc_h
    Caption for water vole: Water Vole. Photo: Peter Trimming/Flickr

    Timble Ings Woods will be the new home of more than 100 water voles as part of a drive to help the endangered species to survive in the Nidderdale area. 

    Yorkshire Water owns the woodland where the mammals will be released, which is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. 

    The company said the area is now an ideal habitat for water voles following its work on watercourses and banksides. Lee Pitcher, head of partnerships at Yorkshire Water, said:  

    “As Yorkshire’s second largest landowner, we’re committed to ensuring our land protects the management of water, but also benefits the environment by delivering exceptional land for the people of Yorkshire. 
    “One of the aims of our Land Strategy is to enable plants and wildlife to thrive on Yorkshire Water land. The work we’ve undertaken at Timble Ings Woods makes it a fantastic habitat for water voles and is important for the protection of this vulnerable species.” 




    Timble Ings Woods is located in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which offers further protection to the landscape.  

    Kelly Harmar, biodiversity officer at Nidderdale AONB, said: 

    “Water voles are in decline nationwide and recent surveys in the AONB revealed precious few populations of water vole on our local rivers. This introduction is a positive step at a site chosen to maximise their chances of survival. We hope the new arrivals will be very happy in their new home.” 





    Read more:



    • Rescue centre rehomes 19 cats

    • Do you agree with grouse shooting in Nidderdale?





    Water voles are believed to be one of the fastest-declining mammals in Britain. They are under serious threat from habitat loss and predation by the non-native American mink. 

    The animals to be released locally have been bred in captivity by Derek Gow Consultancy, and will initially be held in large release pens to acclimatise to their new environment, before they are set free.