Endangered water voles introduced to reserve

The trust said in a statement that it hoped that over the coming months, the aquatic rodents will "adapt easily to life on the 16-hectare reserve at Thundry Meadows and establish widely across the top of the Wey catchment".Their return would also benefit other species which depend on healthy wetland habitats including herons and birds of prey, they added.David Elliott, National Trust lead ranger for the South Downs West said: "Nature wins when we work together.""It's so encouraging to see the water voles returning after all this time, they have been locally extinct for decades."The return of this enchanting species adds a missing piece to this jigsaw."The release is part of a wider effort led by the National Trust, River Wey Trust and South East Rivers Trust to reintroduce the locally extinct species back to the River Wey.Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, external, X, external, and Instagram, external and listen to BBC Radio Surrey on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.