Water voles

The water vole is Britain's fastest declining mammal. The animal, famous as the character Ratty in Wind in the Willows, has suffered considerably as its habitats have been destroyed and it has been preyed on by the feral American mink.
Many of London's waterways and marshes remain a stronghold for the species, however, and a special project officer has been appointed at the London Wildlife Trust to make sure it stays that way. Vole hotspots include the London Wetland Centre and the following rivers: the Crane, the Roding, the Ingrebourne, the Hogsmill and the Cray.
Find out more

London Water Vole Project

Join Buglife for the Big Bumblebee Hunt this summer

Buglife is running the Big Bumblebee Hunt to raise public awareness of bumblebees and the importance that gardens, parks, brownfield sites and other urban areas can have for them, as part of their All of a Buzz in the Thames Gateway project. They need your help to record sightings of bumblebees in local open spaces, so they can start building a picture of how bumblebees are doing in our towns and cities. This would enable them to direct more conservation efforts to help save bumblebees.

The survey will take place in July and August, and beginners are welcome to take part. There will also be a programme of events, such as bumblebee walks, talks and identification workshops, taking place across the south east. For more information about the project and how to get a hold of a survey pack, visit http://www.buglife.org.uk/ or contact Diana Cheng at bumblebee@buglife.org.uk