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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.

Home // Research grants // Our UK mammal projects // Water voles in the city

Water voles in the city

Water vole hole in urban landscape (credit: Laurie Campbell)

Funding for this project has now finished

The problem

Water voles have plummeted by around 90%, one of the most rapid and serious declines of any British wild mammal ever. How can we help the unusual grassland-dwelling water voles of Glasgow to survive their inner city environment?

The solution

Water voles Arvicola amphibius were recently discovered living in grassland far from water in the greater Easterhouse area of Glasgow. Rather than the usual riverbank setting, this population seems to be surviving in an urban landscape with many colonies in parkland, road verges, vacant and derelict land and gardens. The grassland-dwelling behaviour of this species is more common in Europe but little known in the UK. We’re investigating how these city lovers are affected by the land management of their urban environment to find out what works best for these unusual land-based water voles.

Over three years, the project is radio tracking the water voles to see how they respond to disturbance prior to, during and following periods of grassland management. By marking individual animals, we’ll also see how the population density responds to different management regimes by comparison with control sites. Once analysed, the findings will be used to direct the grassland management regime to maximise the chances of water voles in Glasgow and other cities throughout the UK.

Thank you to all our donors who helped us fund this work. You can help us support more projects like this with a donation today:

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