It may have been a bad week for riverbank dwellers across Britain but the sun is most definitely shining on Oxford's vulnerable voles, writes Reg Little.

Work is starting on a 100,000 environmental improvement scheme along the Oxford Canal between Walton Well Road and Frenchay Road in north Oxford.

The scheme will see sections of the towpath resurfaced and widened and there will be extensive cutting back of trees.

But the water vole - best known to many as Ratty in The Wind in the Willows - stands to benefit every bit as much as walkers and cyclists.

For the project will include the restoration of a water ditch, which will provide an important habitat for threatened water voles, as well as creating a no-mooring zone along 70 per cent of the canal's length to reduce disruption to wildlife.

Appropriately the three-year scheme will begin with the willows. Project manager Glen Ridgway says: "A number of the magnificent trees are in very poor condition. The first task will be to cut back some of the willows so that they can re-grow into healthy trees and provide a better home for a whole range of wildlife."

The improvements are being funded by British Waterways and Oxford City Council, through contributions from housing developers along the canal.

BW ecologist Viv Phillips says: "The national number of water voles has declined dramatically since the 1980s but here the canal has one of the most important water vole colonies in the county. By thoughtful management, we hope to allow water voles and other wildlife to co-exist more easily with waterway visitors."

A 150-metre section of the canal bank, next to the recreation ground, will be topped with stone to create a hard edge for boat moorings.

The piled bank will include water vole boxes.

Work on the towpath will begin in January when it will be widened by five feet.

Signs will also be introduced to give more information about the heritage and environmental value of the waterways and new visitor mooring sites will be provided south of Aristotle Bridge.