Continuing the spotlight on peatland biodiversity, our first Species Showcase of 2025 is the Water vole. A species that has been subject to rapid decline in recent decades, it can be found in lowland fens dominated by reedbeds and also in ditches and rivers surrounding upland peatlands across the UK.
Heavily impacted by predation from American mink, it is also at risk from habitat loss and degradation. Efforts are underway to build a more accurate picture of the distribution of Water vole through a number of national recording schemes. Restoration work, including on UK peatlands, can also play a part in helping reverse the decline of this species.
