I've just been and had a look, and the work looks very good. Opening up the banks to the light means they might get grassier, which means more food and better cover/ burrowing. If trees overhang water, vegetation often can't grow properly.
Management like this is best done over winter, too. So once again, well done NSDC.
I think that's exactly what they do. In the cold months they spend long periods underground, and maybe even go into periods of torpor, though they don't hibernate. They eat food they've stored - I heard of a farmer who accidentally uncovered a water vole burrow/chamber and found it was full of potatoes!
I've never seen a water vole during December, but here's what looks like recent feeding I found just now while picking litter. A good sign, I think.
I hope the tree felling by the brook does not upset them too much.
ReplyDeleteI've just been and had a look, and the work looks very good. Opening up the banks to the light means they might get grassier, which means more food and better cover/ burrowing. If trees overhang water, vegetation often can't grow properly.
ReplyDeleteManagement like this is best done over winter, too. So once again, well done NSDC.
Maybe they just popped outside for a quick scoff!
ReplyDeleteI think that's exactly what they do. In the cold months they spend long periods underground, and maybe even go into periods of torpor, though they don't hibernate. They eat food they've stored - I heard of a farmer who accidentally uncovered a water vole burrow/chamber and found it was full of potatoes!
ReplyDeleteAhh, that's where my spuds disappeared to! How cute.
ReplyDelete