Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2006 | Page 52

COUNTRYSIDE & FARMING

Lavender Farm

Living by the
waterside
By Tony Ridd

As much as we have enjoyed our long hot summer
most would have liked a little more rain to
water the garden. This for us, is a luxury, what
happens if your survival depended on water?
Water voles, as the name suggest,
tend to live by the water in rivers,
streams, ponds, lakes, marshes
even woodlands and gardens. You
are more likely to hear them drop
into the water than you are to see,
but if you do spot one they have the
appearance of a rat, about 20cm (8”)
long with a 10-12cm (4-5”) tail. The
differences being a rounder face

with a blunt nose, short furry ears
and glossy dark brown fur. Unlike
rats who can also live near water,
water voles prefer clean water in
less disturbed areas of rivers and
ponds. In Britain they are harmless,
their population fluctuates widely
and rarely do they increase to a
level where they do much damage,
occasionally undermining the odd

bank or two.
Breeding commences in March and
carries on throughout the summer
into early winter depending on the
weather. A nest of woven grass
is usually found below ground in a
burrow on the waters edge. After
three weeks they will give birth,
usually to 5 young and within
fourteen days when they are about

An impromptu (and
rather lucky) image of
a curious young Stoat
watching the photographer.
Photo: David Element

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