Publication Day

I’m delighted to announce that a number of my water vole images illustrate the new book by Jane Russ, The Water Vole Book by Hugh Warwick.

Water voles are one of my favourite mammals. Sadly they are in real danger of becoming extinct in Britain due to non-native Mink, water quality and habitat loss.

Over the years I’ve had many wonderful encounters with these adorable mammals in the Peak District National Park. A couple of these can be seen in a series of photographs below.

The same water vole then slowly climbed up, in between the sharp points of the leaves. Streamlining its body shape in order to squeeze around the sharp edges to reach the holly leaves.

There were times when the water vole fell into the water below, making a loud plop sound. It would then come to the surface, swim to the shore and carry on.

On one occasion, as seen in the photo below the water vole looked directly at me once on land, almost embarrassed maybe knowing I was watching.

Once the water vole had eaten enough it entered the water and swam off, past where I was on the riverbank.

Another incredible encounter shown below. A water vole sitting on a narrow branch, feeding on fresh leaves they’d climbed up and along this branch to reach.

I have never seen this behaviour before and not since. I first saw movement, then I saw this water vole climb out from cover and start feeding on these leaves, then just sit there above the water and eat them.

Thank you Hugh Warwick for asking me to be part of such an important and beautiful book. I hope the book helps to raise awareness and brings about real change for these adorable mammals.

This beautiful book is officially published today. So if you’d like to order or find out more about this book then click here, many thanks.