South Ayrshire Water Vole Reintroduction Project

Good News was received in the office this week with confirmation that ART has secured considerable funding for a water vole reintroduction project in South Ayrshire.

South Ayrshire Waste and Environment Trust (SAWET) have agreed to provide £41,950  over two years which constitutes a high percentage of the total funding required to deliver this project.  ART  is in the final stages of appling for additional funds to allow this exciting project to commence in Spring 2010.

The project is a first of its kind in lowland Scotland and will allow Trust Biologists to research particular apsects of water vole ecology. In particular we will examine dispersal rates, breeding seasons, growth and survival rates. The results will be used to develop future conservation strategies in similar locations.

ART will be involving local community groups and volunteers throughout the duration of the project and encourage anyone with an interest to get in touch. There are many ways to help from assisting with monitoring to mink control, a introduced species that predates on water voles.

The water vole project pages on ART's site will be updated shortly where details of the reintroduction will be available.