The hazel dormouse is becoming increasingly rare, its UK range is contracting and remaining populations are declining in size. Dormice have a varied habitat which include broad leaved woodlands, species-rich hedgerows, and private gardens, Devon is a stronghold for these mice – offering them habitats for foraging and breeding.
Thanks to an award from Valencia Communities Fund of £4,986, Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) can progress a project to protect the current range of the dormouse in Devon. This project will help gain a better understanding of the distribution of dormice and better measure of the success of conservation actions. Additionally, the project will strive to promote a better appreciation of dormice and their needs by land managers and the general public.
To fulfil these objectives the money was put towards enhancing woodland management by thinning trees and reintroducing coppicing. By doing this more light could shine through, enabling a healthier denser understorey, providing more shelter, protection and food for the dormice. In addition, nest boxes were installed, offering a habitat, as well as a way for DWT to monitor numbers and improve their knowledge of how widespread the dormice are.
DWT has also been able to team up with the People's Trust for Endangered Species, promoting a public participation survey of empty hazel nut shells. Volunteers were trained to identify shells opened by dormice across DWT nature reserves so numbers could be monitored.
"The money from Valencia Communities Fund has meant we can not only help to keep this endangered species from becoming extinct, but also educate people in how to monitor their progress." Andrew Taylor, DWT.
