MENTER MÔN has secured new funding to expand its Afonydd Menai project, furthering efforts to protect the native water vole population by eradicating the invasive American mink. The investment worth almost £250k from The Heritage Lottery Fund strengthens ongoing conservation work and contributes to a UK-wide push to control the non-native mink.
For over 20 years, Menter Môn has worked to protect the water vole on Ynys Môn (Anglesey), one of the few remaining strongholds of the species in Britain. Unlike other areas where it has been wiped out and reintroduced through captive breeding, the island has retained its natural population. However, the threat posed by the mink remains. This funding allows for a major expansion of trapping efforts to secure long-term survival for these vulnerable mammals.
Laura Hough is the Project Officer of Afonydd Menai at Menter Môn. She welcomed the new funding: “This investment is a game-changer for this project and our conservation work. We are delighted and very grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their support.
“It means we can expand our trapping network and work with our partners to make major strides toward eradicating the mink and protecting our native wildlife.”
A key aspect of the project is collaboration. Menter Môn is working closely with Eryri National Park to establish a coordinated trapping strategy covering up to 17% of Wales. The newly formed North Wales Mink Forum will bring together conservation groups, improving communication and strategic action. A comprehensive trapping map is also being created to highlight gaps and enhance coordination.
However, Laura wants to emphasise that more can be done, adding: “To maximise our impact, we are keen to recruit volunteers and landowners to get involved with the project.
“Volunteers can help with monitoring and maintaining traps, while landowners can provide crucial trapping sites. I would urge anyone who wants to work with us to get in touch via the Menter Môn website.
“By getting more involved, we can help protect water voles, the UK’s fastest declining mammal.”
As well as the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Afonydd Menai project is funded through a combination of grants and funding, including from the Shared Prosperity Fund and Welsh Water.
