The presence of water vole was identified through survey at Manor Park in Runcorn in 2001. As the construction of an industrial park was to result in the loss of ditches used as habitat by water vole, a mitigation strategy was prepared for the client, English Partnerships.
A network of new ditches was designed around the new industrial units and a method statement prepared to move water voles from ditches that were to be lost. This involved the strimming of vegetation to encourage voles to move coupled with a trapping and translocation scheme.
Annual monitoring of the site in subsequent years has confirmed that the integrity of the water vole population has been maintained.