Water Voles

The water vole is currently scheduled under the Wildlife and Countryside Act in respect of its abode and will shortly become fully protected on an individual basis.

Riverbank Conservation Limited is very keen to conserve and promote the environment and feel it is important to provide a comprehensive service. Sites with preservation orders on water voles can create complications especially when erosion problems need to be dealt with. We are very pleased to inform you that we are able to offer solutions and service that will accommodate the water voles within their natural habitat, without the need to re-house them (depending on the breeding season). We are able to incorporate a technique into our willow spiling to ensure that the animals are able to access their existing holes making sure that any backfill material does not impede into their habitat as well.

We are also able to offer a consultancy service to design a comprehensive, long-term conservation scheme, for the protection of the species. This could include the reintroduction or translocation of the water voles and their subsequent monitoring. We are able to liase with statutory authorities, provide onsite training, carry out site surveys, design and install replacement habitats and planting plans, and advise on all aspects of water vole conservation. Please contact us for further details.

Herons are notoriously particular about nesting sites, rarely moving from an established heronry but when their established site is threatened or disturbed then it is necessary to encourage herons to return to an existing site or move to one newly identified.

Utilising our environment knowledge we provide habitat recreation for herons. A ‘willow platform’ or nest can be constructed and erected within suitable trees to encourage the formation of a new heronry and encourage breeding. The solution is both simple and cost effective with proven successful installations. The product is environmentally sustainable and almost indistinguishable from the heron’s natural nesting habitat.

Riverbank Heron Platforms are available throughout the year but we would advise installation prior to the nesting season.