Managing set-aside for field voles (Microtus agrestis)

Set-aside is a potentially important habitat for field voles, (Microtus agr estis), populations of which may have declined in lowland Britain. We hypot hesized that field vole abundance would increase with the length of time se t-aside was left in situ. To test this we monitored development of field vo le populations in the first 2 years after set-aside establishment, and on o lder set-aside we related abundance to set-aside age and vegetative charact eristics. Voles were not recorded on set-aside until 9 months after establi shment, and populations only began to increase after nearly 2 years. In set -aside fields 2-9 years old, vole abundances were not related to age, but i ncreased with the proportion of grasses and litter in the sward. Management practices such as sowing with a grass seed mix, mowing at least once annua lly and leaving set-aside in place for >2 years are likely to benefit held voles. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.