Rare voles found on Kiveton ex-pit site

A preliminary survey of the the 132-acre Kiveton Community Woodland site has detected signs of the elusive mammal.

And the news has delighted conservationists.

Adrienne Bennett, Forestry Commission Ecologist and Biodiversity Officer, said: “Habitat creation is a key goal in Kiveton’s transformation from a derelict colliery site into a thriving woodland so the fact that we have water voles is tremendous news.

“Loss of riverbank habitat and predation by mink are just two of the factors behind the water vole’s demise. 

“Over the last 60 years they are said to have vanished from 90 per cent of their UK homes. Kiveton is doing its small part in helping reverse that decline.”

The best way of confirming the presence of the animals is by hunting for droppings as sightings are rare.

Rangers have discovered numerous water vole “latrines” along a 400-metre stretch of bank.

Kiveton Park Collliery closed in 1994 since when 37,000 trees have been planted and 50 acres of ponds and grasslands created.

The site is managed by the Forestry Commission and owned by the Land Restoration Trust.