19. Loudwater water vole habitat enhancement scheme
Aims: Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve wildlife corridors
Water body: River Chess
Project description
This scheme aims to improve the quality and continuity of habitat for water voles through the Loudwater Estate.
The R. Chess supports one of the last water vole populations in the Chilterns. Although the water vole population is in a healthy condition between Chesham and Chorleywood, its status is less certain in the lower reaches of the river through Loudwater and into Rickmansworth. The Chilterns Chalk Streams Project and the River Chess Association are working together to develop a scheme to survey the river through Loudwater for water voles and to work with residents with riparian ownership to improve the quality of habitat to boost water vole numbers in the area.