When Kenneth Grahame's classic The Wind in the Willows was published in 1908, readers were introduced to the kind-hearted Ratty - anthropomorphising the familiar Water Vole, which was a common sight along English rivers at the time. Some 120 years later, many people in the UK would struggle to associate Ratty with a species they recognise from daily life, so rare has this endearing mammal become.
There were thought to be some eight million Water Voles in the UK when Grahame wrote the Wind in the Willows. Generous estimates put the national figure at just 180,000 today, with the Trust concluding the Water Vole was functionally extinct in Surrey in 2016 after extensive surveys found no evidence of their presence.
Why are Water Voles disappearing?
Water voles have suffered huge declines because of habitat loss, water pollution, the industrialisation of agriculture and housing development. Perhaps most devastating has been the impact of predation by the American Mink, which was brought to the UK for fur farming in the 1970s and has since established a comfortable niche in our river ecosystems to the detriment of many native species. The Water Vole is particularity vulnerable to Mink, which can easily consume an entire nest of young in one sitting.
Why do Water Voles matter?
Water Voles play a vital role in the river ecosystems, with their actions creating the conditions for other animals and plants to thrive. In this respect, they are a bit like beavers, but on a much smaller scale. As they burrow and feed, Water Voles promote soil microbial activity, improve drainage and soil quality, and disperse seeds and pollen. They also graze on bankside vegetation, ensuring no one plant becomes over-dominant.
How are we helping Water Voles?
Conservation organisations across the country are working hard to improve rivers and wetlands for Water Voles through targeted habitat restoration. Alongside successful Mink removal programs and the release of captive-bred populations, we are working together to bring back these iconic animals to our waterways.
We are now a step closer to returning the Water Vole to Surrey, with the National Trust releasing 30 Water Voles on the River Wey at Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Thundry Meadows nature reserve in September 2026. This follows several recent re-introductions further up the River Wey in Farnham, as well as on the Hogsmill in Epsom and Ewell.
It is hoped that with careful monitoring and continued efforts to restore wetland habitats, keep Mink numbers in check, and pressure government to act on water quality and pollution, the Water Vole will be easily recognised as the friendly ‘Ratty’ in the Wind in the Willows once more.