Once Extinct in Surrey, Helen Maguire MP celebrates return of Water Voles to the Upper Hogsmill River in Major Rewilding Milestone

Liberal Democrat MP, Helen Maguire, hailed the reintroduction of water voles in her constituency of Epsom & Ewell as a “remarkable achievement”, after they were declared functionally extinct in Surrey.

Helen Maguire MP was joined by Liberal Democrat colleague and MP for Carshalton and Wallington, Bobby Dean as they watched around 50 water voles being released onto the Hogsmill river and Chamber Meads wetland this morning (Wednesday 30 July) at a celebratory event.

This was the culmination of many years of work by the South East Rivers Trust, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, Citizen Zoo, and partners to restore the river and create the new wetland habitat. 

The return of this endangered species marks a major milestone for Surrey’s biodiversity and one of the most exciting rewilding projects in the region.

This milestone is the result of a pioneering wetland restoration project led by the South East Rivers Trust (SERT) and reintroduction project by rewilding organisation Citizen Zoo, with support from Wildwood Trust, Natural England Species Recovery Programme, Thames Water and Epsom & Ewell Borough Council.

Helen Maguire took part in efforts to restore the river and wetland habitat to support the species along the upper Hogsmill in 2024.

CEO of the South East Rivers Trust, Dr Bella Davies, said:

“Water voles were once a familiar sight on the Hogsmill, but due to habitat loss and invasive predators, they died out.

“Now, after years of dedicated river restoration work, and the creation of the flagship wetland at Chamber Mead, as well as extensive monitoring by a band of dedicated local volunteers - we’re thrilled to have brought them back to the upper Hogsmill in Surrey,”

Responding, Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom & Ewell, Helen Maguire, said:

“The reintroduction of water voles in my constituency of Epsom & Ewell is a remarkable achievement. I want to thank everyone from the South East Rivers Trust to the countless volunteers who have helped make this special day possible.

“It’s incredible to have a community pushing for natural solutions to solve natural problems, and it was an honour to play a small part in restoration efforts at Chamber Mead last year.

“While this is a significant boost for the Hogsmill, we must go further. Thames Water continues to pump disgusting levels of raw sewage into the Hogsmill, putting this rare chalk stream and its incredible biodiversity at risk. 

“That is why I will keep pressing the Government to turn Thames Water into a public benefit company, and to meet even more ambitious targets to end the raw sewage scandal once and for all.”