Trustees' Report and Accounts - Canal & River Trust

Helping endangered species
Volunteer Paul Roberts is helping us
to understand how we can best protect
Britain’s fastest declining mammal, the
water vole.
Above: Paul Roberts
Paul’s interest in water voles was sparked
through a wildlife recording project on
the Llangollen Canal. Initial studies along
the canal at Chirk Bank showed no
evidence of the mammal. With the help of
a research grant from the People’s Trust
for Endangered Species and training from
our ecologists, Paul turned his attention
to finding out why water voles weren’t
making their home in the area and what
could be done to encourage them back.
As a result of Paul’s findings we have
introduced a habitat enhancement project
along the Llangollen Canal which has
involved clearing vegetation to encourage
more reed growth and installing coir fibre
rolls to protect the bank, helping preserve
the water voles’ habitats.
Coir, made from coconut fibres, reduces
erosion caused by the wash from passing
boats. After installation it is planted with
reeds and provides excellent habitat for
water voles, who use the fibre for bedding
and the plants provide cover and food.
‘‘
Paul’s work has greatly improved our
knowledge of where water voles are within
the World Heritage Site and also how we
can improve this part of the canal network
for this threatened species. The habitat
improvement works that we’ve done will
encourage water voles to re-colonise this
stretch of the canal.
‘‘
– Stuart Moodie, ecologist
Above: Water vole
Trustees’ Report & Accounts 15