Bringing Reedbeds to Life Water Vole and Mink Survey of five key reedbed sites in England in 2009, 2010

Bringing Reedbeds to Life is an innovative programme of scientific research and habitat monitoring, coupled with practical habitat management advice and training. It represents one of the largest co-ordinated programmes of such work on reedbed wetlands for over a decade. The project aims to generate a better understanding of the requirements of a wider range of reedbed wildlife. This enhanced understanding will be used to inform advice, training, management and future conservation strategies across England's reedbeds.
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Water voles were surveyed using two methods: water vole rafts within reedbeds and mink rafts in ditches. This is the first such systematic survey of water vole use of the internal parts of reedbeds as far as we are aware. In addition, mink records from mink rafts in ditches were analysed. Water vole raft surveys were carried out at 3 key reedbed sites: RSPB Ham Wall NNR (Somerset), NE Stodmarsh NNR (Kent) and NWT Hickling Broad NNR (Norfolk). Mink raft surveys were carried out at five sites, the additional two being Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Far Ings NNR and National Trust Wicken Fen (Cambridgeshire).
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The main finding of the surveys was that water vole was present at the five reedbed sites despite the presence of mink also. Therefore reedbeds provide a habitat where the two species can coexist.