Water vole conservation translocations have been undertaken in Britain since the late 1990s, yet consistent guidance on how and when to translocate has been lacking.
This webinar introduces the new Good Practice Guidance, published by People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) in 2026 and endorsed by CIEEM. Prepared by Dr Merryl Gelling and Mike Dean on behalf of PTES and Natural England, with input from Natural Resources Wales, NatureScot and the UK Water Vole Steering Group, it draws on a literature review, collation of data from past translocations, and a workshop with practitioners.
The guidance sets out when a conservation translocation is appropriate, how to establish aims and objectives, and the key considerations for site selection, source of animals, release protocol, monitoring, mink control and social aspects.
PTES coordinates the National Water Vole Monitoring Programme and sits on the UK Water Vole Steering Group. PTES commissioned this guidance because water voles remain one of Britain's fastest declining mammals and past projects have lacked a consistent approach to planning and monitoring, making it difficult to demonstrate success or inform future practice.
About the Presenters
Dr Merryl Gelling and Mike Dean are specialists in water vole conservation and highly experienced ecological consultants. They have been working on survey and mitigation projects for a wide range of protected species in the UK for over 20 years.
Merryl has published extensively on water voles, including peer-reviewed research on reintroduction success, welfare, disease, and the effectiveness of displacement. She is co-author of the Water Vole Conservation Handbook (3rd Edition, 2011).
Mike is lead author of the Water Vole Mitigation Handbook (2016) and Water Vole Field Signs and Habitat Assessment (2021). He has also contributed to several CIEEM Good Practice Guidance documents, including report writing and Ecological Impact Assessments.
