A nature area near Bristol has been chosen as part of a breeding scheme to increase the dormice population. Forestry England is supporting Wildwood Trust in a national programme to reintroduce rare hazel dormice into woodlands where they have become locally extinct.
Forestry England’s Leigh Woods has been specially chosen by wildlife charity, People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and Wildwood Trust, as a site where a dormouse could be collected to support their dormouse reintroduction programme. ‘Leigh’ the dormouse – appropriately named after her woodland home – was collected in October by licensed handlers to become part of this national effort to save dormice. It is hoped she, and other dormice in the captive breeding programme, will help increase the genetic diversity and number of dormice in other parts of Britain.
Leigh was carefully transported to Wildwood Trust, near Ottery St Mary in Devon, to complete a 30-day quarantine. In late spring, when the natural hibernation period ends, Leigh will be moved into an outdoor enclosure to mate with a suitable male dormouse. Britain’s population of hazel dormice has significantly declined by a staggering 70% since 2000 due to habitat loss, degradation and poor management of woodland and hedgerows, compounded by climate change.
As a result, this protected species is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. However, ongoing conservation work continues across the country to ensure dormice don’t become extinct. This includes the PTES’ reintroduction programme which is supported by the Common Dormouse Captive Breeders Group, including Wildwood Trust, and is part of Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme.
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Forestry England’s Leigh Woods has a healthy population of dormice thanks to its rich habitat of coppiced areas. These areas have been brought back into traditional management to increase biodiversity, and a team of licensed experts regularly monitor the dormouse population to understand the wider picture and long-term trends, as well as where conservation efforts should be directed.
Only licensed individuals can handle dormice and spend several years being trained to do so, whilst learning about their ecology. It is illegal to deliberately disturb or harm dormice. Area manager at Forestry England, Nikki Morgans helped locate Leigh and said:
“For the last five years, I have been monitoring dormice in Leigh Woods and am delighted we could support the Wildwood Trust and PTES with their breeding and reintroduction programme. Our small and experienced group of volunteers carefully checked the boxes where dormice commonly nest and found a suitable candidate. For the safety of the dormouse, a bung is quietly placed in the entrance hole to stop them from escaping before each box is carefully removed from the tree and placed into a clear bag for thorough inspection.
“Young dormice can remain with their mother for up to two months before they become independent and when they finally leave the nest, they are well able to fend for themselves. Leigh Woods is home to a healthy population of dormice and I hope we can continue maintaining this. The woodland has a long history of traditional coppicing where trees are repeatedly cut at the base, creating a coppice stool, and allowed to regrow.
“We plan to continue managing certain areas of the woodland in this way, cutting on a 15 to 20 year rotation to create temporary open space and a mosaic of different aged woodland. Coppicing also provides a sustainable supply of wood and increases light in the woodland, which encourages ground flora to flourish and creates dormouse-friendly environments. I look forward to seeing how Leigh evolves as we continue our efforts in dormouse conservation.”
If Leigh has a litter, the young dormice will go to ZSL and Paignton Zoo for health checks. Each will be microchipped before being released into a carefully selected woodland location by PTES, Wildwood Trust and other partners. Hazel Ryan manages the dormouse population at Wildwood Trust and said:
“Leigh will be cared for in a large outdoor enclosure full of leaf litter, straw and leafy branches to help her build her nest and given a special diet that includes nuts and seeds, flowers, fruit and insects. She will be paired up with a mate and it’s hoped that they will produce lots of offspring that can be released at future reintroduction sites.”
Ian White, Dormouse & Training Officer for People’s Trust for Endangered Species, added: “Our annual reintroductions, alongside habitat management, landscape projects and ongoing monitoring, are paramount to the survival of Britain’s dormice. We are very grateful to all volunteers, like at Leigh Woods, who monitor dormouse populations, which is crucial to us understanding the national picture. Leigh may be small, but she is a fundamental part of an ongoing conservation programme.”