Vole Magnet - Backyard Heroes

Discover the water vole (Arvicola amphibius), the engineer of the wetlands and a keystone species for healthy European waterways. This charming semi-aquatic rodent — known as 'Ratty' from The Wind in the Willows — is one of Europe's fastest declining mammals. With a 90% population decline in the UK, the water vole is a conservation priority that urgently needs our support.

This premium magnet features stunning editorial wildlife photography that captures the charm and vulnerability of this special aquatic inhabitant.

Why water voles are wetland heroes:

• Create burrow systems that benefit fish, amphibians, and invertebrates
• Maintain open water channels by grazing vegetation
• Food source for otters, herons, and owls
• Indicator of clean, unpolluted waterways
• Declined by 90% in the UK — conservation priority across Europe
• Vegetarian — eat grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants

How to make your garden water vole-friendly:

• Dig a natural pond with gently sloping banks
• Plant native riparian plants (reeds, sedges, water mint)
• Leave unmown grass along water margins (at least 2 meters)
• Avoid hard pond edges — water voles need soft banks for burrows
• Never use rat poison near water — toxic to water voles
• Connect ponds to create wildlife corridors

We partner with organizations that make a real, measurable contribution to wildlife conservation. Together, we are building a community of wildlife ambassadors — one magnet at a time.

With the purchase of this magnet, we donate €2.00 to wildlife conservation – directly contributing to the preservation of the water vole and its aquatic habitat.

Part of our Backyard Heroes collection — turn your fridge into a tribute to the silent engineers of our waterways.