Co-op shoppers give boost to project bringing water voles back to rural Northumberland

A project to bring water voles back to an area of rural Northumberland has received a funding boost from Co-op shoppers.
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The Kielder based Restoring Ratty water vole project has received £2,365.87 from Bellingham Co-op shoppers via the Co-op Local Community Fund.

Such was the support for the local project that it has been chosen by Bellingham Co-op as one of its local causes for a second year.

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Kelly Hollings, Restoring Ratty project officer said: “What a way to boost morale during the second lockdown - over £2,000 for the project and another year of support from shoppers as well.

A water vole.A water vole.
A water vole.

The Restoring Ratty project began in 2016 with a captive water vole breeding programme in Devon and, since June 2017, 1762 water voles have been released into the waterways of Kielder.

There has also been a school engagement programme.

Restoring Ratty is a five-year partnership project between Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Forestry England and Tyne Rivers Trust.

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More than 100 water voles released into Northumberland countryside
Kelly Hollings, Restoring Ratty project officer with Bethany Nichol and Alison Adams from Bellingham Co-op.Kelly Hollings, Restoring Ratty project officer with Bethany Nichol and Alison Adams from Bellingham Co-op.
Kelly Hollings, Restoring Ratty project officer with Bethany Nichol and Alison Adams from Bellingham Co-op.

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