ready for release in this cumbrian valley. it s part of a two year mission to bring the endangered mammals back to the lake district. oh, it s really exciting. when you work in conservation, you want to see things that should be in the landscape. and sometimes things come naturally and sometimes you have to give them a bit of helping hand. so all of the work that the team s been doing on site for the last few years to make sure that the site is suitable for water voles for it to eventually end up with the release of water voles, is just a fabulous thing to see. water voles used to be widespread in the rivers, streams and lakes of cumbria, but there are nowjust a few isolated populations left here. all of these animals have been bred in captivity and most of them will be introduced to their new habitats in these special soft release pens. just very carefully carrying the water voles down onto the site. it s been prepared for about two years, this area, but it s being kept a secret, the