FOLLOWING the launch of a unique conservation project that resulted in the release of nearly 600 captive-bred water voles on the River Dore in Herefordshire over the past year, the Game Conservancy Trust is running a unique 'on site' demonstration day to highlight the efforts needed to restore the species to areas of Britain where it is extinct.

The demonstration day on the River Dore next Tuesday will focus on the main elements involved in water vole conservation such as recreating the right habitat, removal of American mink, which are catastrophic for water voles, and the reintroduction of captive-bred water voles.

The voles have suffered a drastic decline in range and abundance in Britain with nearly 70% of populations identified in a national survey in the late 1980s being lost by the late 1990s.

As a result water voles are a Government Biodiversity Action Plan species with a set target of recovery by 2010. Despite this, water vole populations continue to be lost.

The demonstration day, in Vowchurch, will include illustrated talks on restoring water vole habitat, the control of American mink using the GCT Mink Raft and the actual release and monitoring of captive-bred water voles.

The afternoon session will involve a walking tour of the River Dore.

Meanwhile, two of Herefordshire's top amateur newt experts are to be featured in a new television programme.

Richard and Phyllis King, of Woodlea, near Little Dewchurch, will appear as part of a BBC4 series about amateur naturalists.

The couple's three different sized ponds, which they built themselves in April 1996, have proved ideal homes for frogs, smooth newts and, most significantly, great crested newts.

So quickly did the ponds mature that the creatures started to appear in the autumn of 1997.

Richard and Phyl, as members of the Herefordshire Amphibians and Reptiles Team (HART), also take part in projects which not only boost the newt population by creating new habitats for them, but get communities involved too.

Richard, HART chairman, said: "HART is planning to restore five ponds across the county in August and September this year. It will involve coppicing trees, de-silting ponds and the removal of invasive plants. The restoration project will cost around £60,000 and this has been funded by the Herefordshire Rivers LEADER+ Programme and the Wye Valley AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty)."

On top of their commitments to HART, Phyl has recently co-written a book entitled Amphibians and Reptiles of Herefordshire, based on the results of the pond survey that has been on-going for the last three years.

BBC film maker Kirsty Henderson said: "The population of these newts has dropped by 60% nationwide, largely due to the huge numbers of British ponds that have disappeared. We are showing people who are doing something positive to stop this decline."

Richard added: "The numbers here at Woodlea have been pretty steady, to see a dramatic improvement more ponds would be needed within a square kilometre of here".

The programme will form one of a six-part series to be shown around spring 2008.