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30th August 2008 - Survey Training Day
A very successful survey training day was held at Tilstock Village Hall on Saturday 30th August 2008. A group of 15 people, ranging from interested amateurs to environmental consultants, came from as far afield as Kidderminster, Manchester, Lichfield and Bishops Castle, together with a number of local volunteers. They spent the morning learning about the animal and its field signs, its legal protection, survey methods and what can be done with the data once collected. The afternoon was spent clambering in and out of ditches in the Steel Heath area where almost all the field signs were seen for real. Thanks to Clive Dean SCC Community and Conservation Officer for making the arrangements, Malcolm and Anne Monie plus Kate Long for leading the training, Rosa Ford for help with the coffee, and to the landowners for access to the ditches. An excellent buffet lunch was supplied by Tilstock WI and the day was funded by Shropshire Wildlife Trust's Clive Tate Fund.
We were amazed at the demand for the course, receiving 36 applications for the 15 places. As a result, we will running a second survey training day next spring, probably in May.
3rd June 2008
The water vole survey day on Tuesday 3rd June in the Fenn's Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses area was a huge success. About 25 people, including Rob Strachan (author of The Water Vole Conservation Handbook) were there. Lots of new colonies were recorded in and around the Moss, around Bettisfield and along the Redbrook. Many thanks to Emma Broad for the excellent organisation, including the fine weather!
An article about the Whitchurch Community Water Vole Project has appeared in the Spring / Summer 2008 Issue 9 of "Your Countryside", the newsletter of Shropshire County Council's Conservation and Ranger Team. Issues of this newsletter can be viewed online
at
http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/countryside.nsf/open/C6C65FA51C4B6D1680256FBE005521C7
.
10th May 2008
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th April 2008
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1st April 2008
A water vole slide presentation can be viewed by clicking HERE . Script and narration by Kate Long. |
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29th March 2008
A second interpretation board was erected at the water vole viewing point on the Greenfields Nature Trail. |
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16th February 2008
Kate Long reported the first water vole sighting of 2008 at the White Lion Meadow car park. |
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9th November 2007
On Wednesday, 31st October, the Whitchurch water voles with Miranda Krestovnikoff was shown on BBC1 as part of the Nature of Britain series. |
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Saturday 15th September 2007
A water vole interpretation board has been installed in Whitchurch Waterway Country Park adjacent to the path that runs towards the canal from Greenfields Rise . It stands with Staggs Brook behind it and shows information about water voles and where they might be seen in the Whitchurch area.
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3rd August 2007 - Prees Branch Survey
The results of the survey show that the water voles are flourishing on the canal and have benefited from the work done on the reserve, especially the fencing of the far bank to prevent it being poached by cattle. Some 15 latrines were found in the 1 km section surveyed which suggests a current population of about 12 water voles. (Click
HERE
to view short video)
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Preparing the inflatable
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Viv Geen and John Powell suveying |
Recording the event
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30th July 2007 - Exciting News
Water voles have taken up residence in the new pond at Greenfields Nature Reserve less than 5 months after the pond was dug. A check on 30th July 2007 revealed trackways, feeding stations, droppings and a burrow. The pond was designed with water voles in mind and it has certainly paid off. It was made with a steep bank along most of the edge and a shelf under the water for plants such as rushes to grow on.
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Fishermen at Whitwater Fishery have reported regular sightings of water voles recently.
8th March 2007
Over 100 people attended the Whitchurch Community Water Vole Project public meeting held in the Whitchurch Civic Centre Bar Lounge. Attendees had the opportunity view the numerous displays and talk to members of the project team prior to and after the presentations.
The meeting was chaired by John Hughes, Shropshire Wildlife Trust Development Officer, and a number of presentations followed.
Kate Long and Rosie Rees described the water vole and stressed the importance of maintaining the Whitchurch population of this endangered species.
Malcolm Monie, Whitchurch Community Water Vole Project Co-ordinator spoke about the findings from the 2006 surveys and gave details of some of the habitat improvements made.
Viv Geen – Shropshire Wildlife Trust Wildlife Sites and Planning Officer, explained how Whitchurch fits into the national scene.
Anne Monie encouraged the audience to help with the project by becoming a volunteer.
Philip Walker launched the ‘Living near Water Voles’ leaflet and copies were given to those attending. The illustrated leaflet is an informative guide which explains how to detect the presence of water voles and how the public can help them to survive.
The meeting ended with a question and answers session.
29th December 2006 Thanks to the prompt action by N.S.D.C. and Welsh Water the brook is presently clear of debris. The water vole population in Staggs Brook, adjacent to the White Lion Meadow car park, provided enjoyment for many people during 2006. Unfortunately vandals appear to have targeted the brook with their mindless actions. The water vole is an endangered species and therefore anything we can do to prevent disturbance and damage or obstruction to their habitat is most important. Please visit http://staggsbrook.blogspot.com/ for further detailed information. Kate invites you to leave comments to her blog entries.
In the morning, the Whitchurch Water Vole Project team were able to demonstrate how surveying for water vole activity is done. Albert Griffiths and Malcolm Monie were interviewed by Miranda Krestovnikoff.
In the afternoon, the Project team were filmed carrying out some simple habitat management work on private land near the canal.
Rachel (producer), Murray (sound), Gary (camera) and Song (work experience) filming at Whitwater.
This is one of the footprints which Miranda saw - a rear print, showing five toes.
Film crew and Miranda Krestovnikoff (presenter) following Malcolm towards the reed bed.
Miranda admiring the water vole footprints from the tracking raft.
17th June 2006 - Water vole survey day
Surveying 2 sections of Staggs Brook: near Edward German Drive and further downstream west of the canal. 1 new volunteer was trained by the group. Some encouraging signs were found. Photos of hot volers returning for lunch and 2 volunteers in Staggs Brook.
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The 3-person film crew (producer, researcher and cameraman) spent over two hours filming and gathering information for future programmes
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Public interest in Whitchurch is increasing as members of the Project have been showing water voles to passers-by as they conduct the survey
- Posters advertising the survey, explaining about the project and describing water vole habits and habitat have been put up at over 30 locations in Whitchurch, and also in many surrounding villages
- 13 people in photo joined by 2 more in the afternoon
- Surveying along Staggs Brook from the station upstream as far as Blakemere
- Results were encouraging along several stretches, but there is evidence of mink at Blakemere, with a consequent lack of water voles.
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5 of the volunteers were trained by more experienced members of the Project
Survey Team
