A survey has found encouraging numbers of water voles living along the River Meon at St Clair’s Meadow Nature Reserve.
Water voles are one of Britain’s most threatened mammals and depend on healthy riverside habitats with plenty of vegetation. Their presence at St Clair’s Meadow is a positive sign for the condition of the river and its surrounding wetlands.
The reserve is managed to protect and restore wildlife habitat along the Meon, with water vole monitoring helping conservationists understand how the population is responding.
The discovery adds to a growing list of wildlife successes along the River Meon.
Source: South Downs National Park