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Wildlife
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- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
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- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
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- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
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- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
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- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
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- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
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- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
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- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

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Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
- Close
- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
- Close
- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
- Close
- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
- Close
- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

Water voles

Water voles have experienced one of the most rapid and serious declines of any British wild mammal ever. We are dedicated to saving this national treasure, and you can help too.

Water voles

Water voles have experienced one of the most rapid and serious declines of any British wild mammal ever. We are dedicated to saving this national treasure, and you can help too.

By the end of the 1990s we had lost more than 90% of our nation’s water voles. This was due to habitat loss and fragmentation during the 20th century and more recent pressures from non-native American mink.

A recent report estimated a further 30% decline in the places where water voles live in England and Wales between 2006-2015. Encouragingly, the report did show that there was a slight increase in their distribution in the most recent reporting period (2011 to 2015) compared to the previous one (2010 to 2014) and some successful conservation activity.

Learn more about water voles, our current conservation work to save them and how you can become a vole-unteer with us by following the links below!

About water voles

Find out more about the life of a water vole. Where do they live? What do they eat? Why are they endangered?

View water vole facts
National Water Vole Monitoring Programme (NWVMP)

We’ve been monitoring water voles across the UK since 2015. If you’re interested in helping water voles, find out more and register to take part.

Read more and sign up
How we’re helping water voles

Discover how we’ve been helping water voles over the last twenty years and which projects we’re currently working on.

Our water vole work
Water vole recovery project

Help the London Water Vole Recovery Project to better understand the current distribution of water vole and American mink across the capital to aid in water vole conservation.

Take part
Advice for landowners

Interested in helping water voles on your land? Download our free guide and find out which agri-environment schemes are water vole friendly.

Help water voles on your land
Seen a water vole?

It’s important to report any sightings of water voles, so we know where they remain and their presence can be recorded locally. Find out who you should record your sighting with.

How to report a water vole sighting
Donate to water voles

Support our work to help water voles today by giving a donation.

Donate

Water voles

Water voles

About water voles

National Water Vole Monitoring Programme (NWVMP)

How we’re helping water voles

Water vole recovery project

Advice for landowners

Seen a water vole?

Donate to water voles