A CONSERVATION group is inviting people join the battle to stop one of the country’s most threatened species going extinct.

Although there has been a dramatic decline in the water vole population in the country since 1970, there has been an increase in numbers of the animal in areas of Gloucestershire including the Cotswold Water Park.

And now the Canal & River Trust, Nature Watch scheme is asking people to visit the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, their local river, reservoir or lake in Gloucestershire and record sightings of water voles, to help track their habits and prevent their decline.

Mark Robinson, national ecologist for the Canal & River Trust, explains: “Water voles are synonymous with British watercourses, they are the largest of the vole family and widely recognised thanks to Ratty from Wind in the Willows. But they are one of the most endangered species in the country and are fast becoming a rare sight on Britain’s canals and rivers. While there have been positive steps across the country to reintroduce them and protect their habitats, by the Trust and other organisations, we have to do more if we are going to stop the water vole from going the way of the dodo.”

“By taking part in the Great Nature Watch you can help us monitor the numbers of water voles and in fact, all species living on waterways, which is essential when looking after and maintaining a 200 year part of our industrial heritage.”

Between 1970 and 1999 water voles were spotted on nearly 269 miles or 53 different locations, in 2,000 miles of British waterways.

Visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/great-nature-watch for more details