Archived press release

Extinct ratty to be cut from wind in the willows?

8 April 2000

NOTICE TO PICTURE DESKS

A copy of the artwork from the front cover of FOE's “Revised Edition 2005”of The Wind in the Willows is available on request. The cover is based on Ernest Shephard's classic drawings of Mole, Badger, Toad and Ratty but a white blank has been left where Ratty should be. The blurb has also been amended to reflect the loss of Ratty from the book, and his replacement by the aggressive American Mink.

The artwork is available as an Acrobat file, or in printed format.

“Poor old Ratty”, said Toad. “We all do miss him so. Life just isn't the same around here without him. The river seems so ...so ...dead somehow, now that he's gone”.

“And just think”, said Mole. “Ratty's death could have been prevented, if only action had been taken back in the year 2000. ...If only nice old Mr. Meacher had included measures to protect endangered species in his otherwise splendid Countryside Bill. Perhaps Ratty would still be with us now”.

A new character, American Mink, has joined the stoats, weasels and ferrets as the villains of the book, and Mole, Badger and Toad do not find his aggressive style very agreeable. He is a poor substitute for that good little fellow, Ratty.

Water voles (Arvicola terrestris) were once common throughout much of the country, but they have

suffered one of the worst declines of any British mammal. A recent national survey, found that the decline has now turned into a population “crash”, with 90% of the remaining population lost in just the last seven years [1].

And yet, the Government's Countryside Bill, currently going through the House of Commons,contains few measures to protect endangered species. Friends of the Earth is calling for key amendments to protect the water vole and others.

The long term decline of the water vole was due to extensive habitat loss and changes to river environments last century. But more recently, the rapid spread of American Mink has devastated the remaining populations. Research has shown that the water vole is the most important prey species for the predator, which only started breeding in the wild here in 1957.

Water vole experts have suggested that, if the species is to be saved, then a network of “key sites”protected by targeted mink control needs to be established immediately. Habitat restoration projects are also urgently required.

This weekend, Friends of the Earth groups across the country, will be collecting signatures from the public, and from MPs, calling on Mr. Meacher to amend the Bill so that it includes measures to protect our most endangered species.

Craig Bennett, Wildlife Campaigner for Friends of the Earth said:

“Mr. Meacher's Countryside Bill will help protect our very best wildlife sites, but offers little hope for endangered species outside these wildlife havens. The Bill must be amended to protect local wildlife sites, and ensure species recovery programmes for precious creatures such as the water vole.

If he doesn't take this opportunity, then in just five years time, Mr Meacher or his successor will have to explain to today's toddlers that Ratty no longer exists”.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The Vincent Wildlife Trust carried out two national surveys of water vole populations in the 1990s, seven years apart. It found that previous declines had developed into a serious population'crash', whith a further loss of two thirds (67.5%) of the occupied sites and nine tenths (88%) of the remaining population over the period. In total, 2970 separate sites were surveyed.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust