THE water vole is making a comeback thanks to the efforts of volunteers in Magor.

The Gwent Wildlife Trust (GWT) has released almost 50 water voles at carefully selected sites on the Barecroft Common nature reserve.

Situated next to Magor Marsh, the water voles will add an element of diversity to the area's animals, and continues GWT's work in trying to protect populations against the American Mink.

Part of this work has been to help create the best possible environments for the water voles to survive, something that has gone on at Barecroft Common.

Once a common sight in the area, water vole numbers have declined following the invasion of the non-native American Mink in the 1970s.

Mink numbers have now been reduced to low enough levels, thanks to the hard work of volunteers, that the reintroduction of almost 50 water voles is deemed safe.

The introduction has been phased to make the change as easy as possible for the animals. They were initially kept on the Common in "soft release" cages so that they could acclimatise to their new surroundings, before the doors were opened allowing them to come and go as they pleased. Finally, with the project's officers satisfied with conditions, the cages have been removed from the area.

Gwent Wildlife Trust's project officer, Alice Rees, said: "With the worrying trend of water vole loss across the UK, we are so proud to be helping this rare species make a comeback in south east Wales.

"Without the hard work of our volunteers and staff, water voles would certainly become extinct in Gwent and we'll keep fighting to keep them here!"

To find out more about the water vole's reintroduction, visit http://www.gwentwildlife.org">www.gwentwildlife.org