Thank you for taking part in our Water Vole Survey 2014, every bit of information
you can provide will be of great help to us. Please read through this first page, along
with the other bits of information included in your pack before you start. We suggest
you start surveying in April as water voles are less active in the winter.
Complete the form as best you can, fill in as much or as little as you wish. There are
extra boxes for those who would like to record additional species and any other
comments can be written on the back of the form.
If you would like a specific area to cover then contact the email address below and
you will be given a grid reference to survey within.
If you wish to do a casual survey and need to find a grid reference then the Grab a
grid website is a great tool to find your grid reference.
http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/
Information and pictures of invasive species can be found in the field guide.
If you would like to draw a map of your location feel free to do so on the back page,
you can also pin point your location using Google or Bing map tools.
If you also wish to share any pictures of your finds or points of interest then please
attach them to the back of the form or send them via the email address below.
Please send your forms to;
Tees Valley Wildlife Trust
Margrove Heritage Centre
Boosbeck
Saltburn
TS12 3BZ
Or you can send them to your nearest friends groups/rights of way/council
representative.
If you have questions or want to arrange a form pick up then please email
Amy Carrick on;
forestschools@teeswildlife.org
Or call 01287 636382
Happy Surveying!
Please read the following water vole habitat information to ensure you are starting at the right point.
Water Voles mainly occur along well vegetative high sided banks along becks, rivers, ditches, dykes, canals and
lakes. The suitability of these banks are dependent on the height of the bank for burrowing, refuge from high
water levels in winter and the availability of food all year round. Slow moving water courses which provide a
permanent source of water throughout the year are favoured by Water Voles. Long varying types of vegetation
are key to a water voles habitat for feeding, cover and nest making. Vegetation can include reeds, rushes,
sedges, grasses, water plants and wildflowers as a source of food and for dry nest making. Sites with a large
population of trees and scrub are not favoured by water voles due to the excessive shading on the bankside,
which will prevent vegetation growth. Densely industrialised areas along with concreted banks are also not
favoured by water voles.
Ensure the area you’re surveying contains the features in the above information.
If you find one of the following in the area you are surveying please continue to another part of the water
course, this is due to the relative unlikeness that there are water voles present.
Dense woodland
High sided concrete banks
Industrialised area
Background Information
Borough
Site Name/River
Grid Reference Start
Grid Reference End
Surveyor
Date of Survey
Habitat Information
Habitat
Bankside Vegetation
Trees
Invasive Species
Ditch
Bare Soil
Saplings
Himalayan Balsa
Pond
Tall Grass
Mature
Giant Hogweed
Lake Reservoir
Short Grass
Over hanging branches
Crassula Helmsii
Stream
Reeds/Sedges
Scrub/Bushes
Japanese Knotweed
Marsh
Nettles/Thistles
Beck
Wildlflowers
Dominant Species
Other Species
Occasional Species
Water Vole Information
Water Vole Signs
Species of wildflowers/trees
Disturbance (e.g walkers, dogs,
Potential Signs
fly tipping, smells etc)
Sightings
Droppings
Unused burrows
Latrines
Burrows
Plop
Two Burrows
Footprints
Runs
Cropped grass around burrow
Wildlife Information (No.of each)
Bordering Land Use
Otter
Otter Signs
Woodland
Meadow
Mink
Mink Signs
Industrial
Other
Rat
Rat Signs
Housing
Kingfisher
Other Wildlife of Interest
Grazing Land
Dipper
Arable Land
Banded Demoiselle
Recreational Land
Optional Map
Sketch a rough map of your survey area on this page. Mark the location of water vole signs and other features of
interest. You can be as brief or detailed as you like. You may also insert photos, ordnance survey maps or
Google/Bing maps.