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Endangered species sets up home in Barnsley
ONE of Britain's most endangered mammals has set up home... in Barnsley.
Ecologists from the Environment Agency have discovered a thriving colony of water voles near Darfield.
Evidence of the voles was discovered in July during a routine inspection of Little Houghton Marsh, an area of flood-defence washland.
The ecologists then did a more detailed survey, which revealed a colony of around 20 voles.
Andrew Virtue, a biodiversity officer for the Environment Agency, said: "The discovery of water voles at Little Houghton Marsh is particularly important, as the site is due to be developed into a wetland reserve early in 2010, and the plans will now also incorporate water vole-friendly features."
The current plans aim to provide habitat for a range of important species, including lapwing, grass snake and some rare invertebrates.
But Andrew said: "None of the works will affect the principal function of the washland site – to help protect the people of Darfield from flooding.
"All the excess soil from the works will be removed from site, so there will be no loss of flood storage capacity."
The site is separated from the River Dearne by a large embankment which is likely to have kept mink – the biggest threat to water vole – at bay.
The results of the vole survey will also be fed into the Riparian Mammals Project, a partnership between the Environment Agency, Natural England, the South Yorkshire Biodiversity Forum, the RSPB, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and the Barnsley Biodiversity Trust.
The project aims to survey potential water vole sites away from the Dearne and identify new potential sites for wetland creation.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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