Ratty's Return to the Lake District

Available for over a year

Conservationists and volunteers have released 200 water voles at a restored nature reserve in Cumbria, to help create a thriving population of the endangered mammals. Water voles were once widespread in rivers and lakes across the UK, but have been almost wiped out in recent decades - because of loss of habitat and invasive predators, including American mink. The BBC's Science Correspondent, Victoria Gill, joined the teams at work in the Lake District - for this episode of our podcast, 5 Minutes On. IMAGE CREDIT: Kreyn Photography/Getty Creative