Go nuts for endangered dormice
09/04/2009
This year, wildlife charity the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) celebrates 21 years of the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme (NDMP), the longest running national mammal monitoring project in the world. The programme involves the collection of data on the numbers and density of dormice in different habitats and places throughout their remaining range.
Britain’s only native dormouse species, the hazel dormouse, is now rare and vulnerable to extinction. Once widespread throughout much of the country, dormice have become extinct across half their range in England due to the loss and fragmentation of their habitat, as well as their sensitivity to climate change.
As part of the NDMP, which is led by PTES with co-funding from Natural England, trained volunteers across nearly 200 sites monitor data on the numbers and density of dormice in their remaining range by carrying out checks of nest boxes. The results are held in a database which is used to assess the status of the species over time.
To mark the 21st birthday of this vital monitoring scheme, PTES is staging an exciting programme of events throughout 2009 with the aim of encouraging the public to get involved in helping save this endangered species. Up-to-date information will be available via the website linked below.
• Organise a dormouse tea party
Celebrate 21 years of dormouse monitoring by organising your very own tea party to help raise funds for dormouse conservation. Visit the PTES website and download your free tea party event pack, including recipe ideas, poster and invitation templates, and a quiz.
• Take part in the Great Nut Hunt
Plans are underway to launch the third Great Nut Hunt in September , marking the official celebration of NDMP’s 21st birthday. The first Great Nut Hunt survey was held during National Dormouse Week in 1993; the second survey, which took place in 2001, resulted in the collection of over 50,000 nuts! To take part in the Great Nut Hunt 2009 and receive your free survey pack, visit the website below.
• Enjoy Wildlife Encounters with dormice
Feel like you’ve spent the winter hibernating? Then why not awaken your senses and get active with one of the many stimulating dormouse encounters on offer by PTES. Each tailor-made activity is run by wildlife experts and is designed to give participants a unique and inspiring insight into the lives of these shy and elusive mammals.
Dormice in Kent
Date: Saturday 23 May 2009, Saturday 20 June 2009, Saturday 18 July 2009, Saturday 22 August 2009, Saturday 19 September 2009 Location: Chartham Hatch, Kent
Hunstead Wood is part of the Blean, a large area of woodland. In 2000 several dormouse boxes were donated by the Wildlife Corridors Project and put up in Hunstead Wood by a group of volunteers. The dormouse population has been monitored ever since. The site has high numbers of dormice so there will be a good chance of spotting some of these delightful creatures.
Itinerary: Meet at 9.30am to begin checking the boxes. The event will last two hours.
Supporter: £10 Non-supporter: £14
Small mammal captive breeding programmes
Date: Saturday 13 June 2009 Location: Herne Bay, Kent
Hazel Ryan, Conservation Officer, will give a talk about the species involved, how they are bred and the reintroduction programmes. The species involved include water voles, water shrews, harvest mice and dormice. You will also have a behind the scenes tour of the small mammal captive breeding facilities at the Wildwood Trust and there will be a chance to see and photograph (in the hand) all these species close up.
Itinerary: Talk begins at 10am and the event will finish around 12.30pm, but you are welcome to spend the afternoon exploring Wildwood.
Supporter: £20 Non-supporter: £24
Dormice in Shropshire
Date: Thursday 16 July 2009 Location: Near Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Brooks Coppice, a mixed woodland of conifers and broadleaves, is home to 50 dormice nestboxes, which have been monitored for the past 17 years. The site often records good numbers of dormice as well as common and pygmy shrews, yellow-necked and wood mice. As the site is wet underfoot in some areas this event it not suitable for those with walking difficulties.
Itinerary: Meet at 10am to begin checking the boxes and hopefully see some of these small mammals up close. The event will finish between 12.30pm and 1.00pm.
Supporter: £12 Non-supporter: £16
Dormice in North Devon
Date: Saturday 08 August 2009 Location: Near Bideford, Devon
Janice Whittington received a Millennium Award in 2001 which enabled her to set up the North Devon Dormouse Project. She erected 50 boxes on each of four sites and has been monitoring them since. We will visit Beam Wood, a beautiful site alongside the River Torridge in north Devon to help with the dormouse box check.
Itinerary: The day will start at 10.00am for coffee and an introductory talk about dormouse ecology. After a packed lunch (not included) we will visit Beam Wood to look for the dormice themselves. The event will finish at about 4.00pm.
Supporter: £15 Non-supporter: £19
Dormice in Sevenoaks
Date: Wednesday 02 September 2009 Location: Near Sevenoaks, Kent
The woodland at Toys Hill is over 500 acres in size and has been designated both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The dormouse population has been monitored here for 5 years. This event will give us the opportunity to assist on a dormouse box check and hopefully see some of the creatures themsleves!
Itinerary: Meet at 10am and walk to the woodland which will take about 15 minutes. The event will finish at around 12pm.
Supporter: £10 Non-supporter: £14
Dormice and reptiles in Quilters Wood
Date: Saturday 19 September 2009 Location: Near Bossingham, Kent. A lift from Canterbury West Station for those arriving by train can be arranged.
Quilters Wood has a wide variety of wildlife for such a small area of wood and pasture. In October 2006 30 dormice were found in just 19 nestboxes! Since this astonishing find, six new nestboxes have been added. Adders, slow worms, lizards and grass snakes are also present at the site, as well as a pair of buzzards.
Itinerary: You will meet at 10.30am to begin checking the nestboxes. During our visit you will also look for reptile life on the site. There will be a break for a picnic lunch (not included in price) and the event should finish at about 3.00pm.
Supporter: £12 Non-supporter: £16
Dormice in Briddlesford Woods
Date: Saturday 19 September 2009 10:00 and 14:00, Saturday 17 October 2009 10:00 and 14:00 Location: Wootton Bridge, Isle of Wight
Join us at the PTES reserve on the Isle of Wight for a rare chance to see dormice in their natural setting. September and October are good months for plenty of sightings, as the dormice are still fattening up for the winter and will be using the nest boxes to stay out of the cold during the day. You will help check some of the 400 nest boxes in the woods, and learn about the ecology of this rare mammal and the management of the woodland. Keep an eye out for red squirrels too, which are particularly active at this time of year.
Itinerary: Meet in the woods at the designated time to begin the box checks. The event will last approximately 3 hours.
Supporter: £12 Non-supporter: £16
Dormice in Suffolk
Date: Sunday 20 September 2009 Location: Barking, near Needham Market, Suffolk
Dormice were reintroduced to this ancient wood owned by the Woodland Trust in 2000, with help from PTES. The 200 boxes are checked about four times each year and the data gained goes to the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme. After a decline in dormouse numbers for the first few years, the number of dormice now exceeds the number released.
Itinerary: Meet at 8.30am to begin checking the boxes for dormice. The event will finish at around 1.00pm.
Supporter: £10 Non-supporter: £14
Dormice in Clwyd
Date: Saturday 17 October 2009 Location: Y Ddol Uchaf, nr Brynford, Clwyd
Dormouse boxes were erected in Coed Bron Fadog in 2000 and 2007 saw the highest number of dormice so far. During this event you will help check the boxes at Coed Bron Fadog, recording any dormice you find. We will be hoping to find some dormice getting ready for hibernation. Time permitting, there will also be a visit to a Wildlife Trust reserve, Y Ddol Uchaf, to survey the boxes here as well.
Itinerary: Meet at Y Ddol Uchaf at 10am to begin our box check. The event will finish at about 2pm.
Supporter: £12 Non-supporter: £16
As places are limited, all Wildlife Encounters need to be booked in advance – visit www.ptes.org or call us on 020 7498 4533.
Note: Wildlife Encounters are suitable for children aged 12+ when accompanied by an adult.
(Photo by Hattie Spray)