volumevolume 2 2 2012 2012 thedormouse monitor the newsletter of the national dormouse monitoring programme

people’s trust for endangered species |

INSIDE Seven sleepy dormice How dormice use their whiskers Setting up a dormouse support group volume 2 2012 Welcome Contents Seven sleepy dormice 3

International dormouse exchange: studying dormice in Japan and Hungary 4

How can dormice climb in the dark? Insights into dormouse whiskers 6

Dormouse nests in strange places 7

Okehampton Primary School project 8 Welcome to the autumn 2012 edition of The Putting down new roots 9 Dormouse Monitor, we hope you enjoy reading it and if Welsh dormice and other mammals 10 you feel inspired to send us an article for a future edition New dormouse training material 11 we would be delighted to feature it. Or if you have any How to start a dormouse support group 12 dormouse images we could use to illustrate an issue Sussex helpers wanted 13 it would be wonderful to receive them. Branching out: planting trees for less 14 Please don’t forget to enter your 2012 records online or Donkeys and dormice in Devon 15 send them in to us as soon as you have completed this And fi nally... 16 year’s nest box checks. Once all the 2012 data is in it will be analysed to see how this year’s poor weather has aff ected numbers and the national population trend. The variability in the British weather must be aff ecting our dormice. We have had variable winter temperatures, a cold and wet summer and an uncertain start, end and People's Trust for Endangered Species duration to our British 15 Cloisters House summer. This makes habitat 8 Battersea Park Road London management of the woods SW8 4BG the dormice are living in so crucial to their continued www.ptes.org survival at a site. And what’s Tel: 020 7498 4533 good for dormice is also [email protected] good for many other species Registered charity number 274206 too. If you would like a copy of our leafl et on managing The National Dormouse Monitoring Programme is funded by PTES and Natural England. woods for dormice do let us The Dormouse Monitor is compiled by Nida Al Fulaij & Susan Sharafi . Cover image kindly provided by Hugh Clarke. Printed by 4-print on environmentally friendly paper. know. The opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the People’s Trust for Endangered Species. Best wishes

Nida Al Fulaij & Susan Sharafi

2 the dormouse monitor

2 the dormouse monitor volume 2 2012 Seven sleepy dormice

On possibly the only day it I did not realise having have six monitoring sites using the boxes that we didn’t rain this summer our so many dormice in torpor and Brecknock Wildlife Trust had pre-seeded with hay at dormouse visit to Crychan together was that unusual is contracted by Forestry the start of the season. Hay Forest (mid Wales) proved until PTES got in touch Commission Wales to was put in every other box remarkably easy. Not only after seeing the photo on monitor dormouse numbers as an experiment to try to did we have good numbers Brecknock Wildlife Trust’s in the forest and to provide put off nesting birds and to of dormice (25 in 100 boxes) Facebook account. In that management advice. It is encourage dormice to make but they were all fast asleep. same visit we also found a only in the last three or nests. In fact it seems to have As every dormouse monitor group of fi ve, two groups so years that dormouse encouraged them so much knows this makes the job of three and two lots of two numbers in our nest boxes that they may have stopped of weighing and sexing dormice. A volunteer who have really increased. Prior making the traditional the animals much easier, has boxes in another part of to the harsh winters of 2009 green-leaved nests. especially when you fi nd the forest had one group of and 2010 we were fi nding If anyone would like to seven in one box! six, two groups of fi ve and lots of wood mice and very know more about this These seven were all in one group of four. Is this few dormice. Since those monitoring project please torpor with weights ranging unusual? two winters wood mouse contact me. Thanks must from 11.5g up to 20g. Were We are really pleased numbers have dropped be given to our dedicated they a family group from to be fi nding such high dramatically and dormouse volunteer dormice monitors last year? A check on the numbers of dormice in numbers have increased. and to our funder Forestry 2011 data revealed that our boxes as Crychan and Did the harsh winters help Commission Wales. in September eight active Halfway Forest are Forestry dormice by seeing off their dormice were found in a box Commission Wales-owned competition? Beverley Lewis very close to this year’s box conifer plantations with It is also interesting to Brecknock Wildlife Trust of seven. Could this be the some remnant broad-leaved note that all the dormice we blewis@ same family group? woodland in patches. We found in the June visit were brecknockwildlifetrust.org.uk. Ian Brooker

the dormouse monitor 3 volume 2 2012 International dormouse exchange: studying d

OurOu story began ten years the main area of research, ago at the Hungarian which included collecting dormousedo conference, where droppings, looking at food I metm our most well-known remains, taking fur samples and beloved Japanese and also collecting possible colleague,col Professor Shusaku sources of food such as MinatoMi who was busy diff erent plants during the givinggiv dormouse pins to day and insects at night. participantspa and turning The basis of the research themth upside down, to teach was under-pinned by a hishi European colleagues long-term nest box study,

Photos: Haruka Photos: Aiba and Manami Iwabuchi thatth Japanese dormice which I have been running haveh a very special habit now for over 12 years. A ofo moving along branches total of approximately 400 withw their heads down. nest boxes and nest tubes It took further conferences have been erected in eight fofor the working relationship diff erent habitat types to start. I remember the UK throughout an area about cconference in 2008, where I 30km north of Budapest. ggave a presentation on the In 2010, at the 10th eecological parameters of Conference of the Parties of cco-existing dormice. Three the Convention on Biological ddormouse species occur Diversity (CBD COP10), I had in Hungary – the hazel the chance to visit Japan (MuscardinusM avellanarius), myself. Shusaku organised tthe fat (Glis glis) and the several events and a booth foforest dormouse (Dryomys at the COP10 to showcase ninnitedula), and in several aerial animal pathways. Pat hahhabitats all three live and Mary Morris also visited totogether, even in the same Japan on this occasion and vevegetation plot. Professor spoke at these events. After MiMinato became interested COP10 Shusaku invited us in the topic and wanted to give a talk to the students to learn more about this and staff of the Kiyosato phphenomenon himself. He Educational Experiment rairaised funds to visit Hungary Project which also gave us for research purposes for the opportunity to visit the seseveral years; once on his world famous Dormouse owown and also with his Museum. wwife (Chise Minato) and You can read endless cocolleagues (Haruka Aiba articles about foreign aand Manami Iwabuchi) – countries, but being fi ve times in total. there allows you to really As is usual for precise experience and understand JaJapanesea research methods, the little diff erences. For seseveral techniques were example, if we hone it usused to gain more data and down to our narrow topic, knknowledge: radio-tracking, dormouse research, even ninight-vision cameras though the main research anand luminous bodies - or methods may be similar, cacapsules – were all used there are always small to examine the nocturnal variations. I was amazed bebehaviour of the European by the dormouse rescue dodormouse species, in order centre, which gives shelter to compare them with those to dozens of injured or of their Japanese relatives. rescued dormice – my only ReRecently, the nutritional chance to see a live Japanese didiff erences between the dormouse. Though we ththree dormouse species was carried out several nest box

44t theh dormoused monitorit volume 2 2012 g dormice in Japan and Hungary

checks, as often happens in which will last in our nature, we only found nests memories for a very long FACT

in the boxes, no animals. The time. Japanese dormouse Morris Pat dormouse nests we found FILE also had similarities to those Kristóf Hecker & Shusaku Th e only species of dormouse to be found in Hungary, but due Minato found in Japan, to the availability of diff erent and endemic to vegetation, the materials Professor Shusaku Minato the country, the diff er in many ways. Just to works at the Kiyosato Japanese dormouse mention one example: tree Educational Experiment is unlike any other bark is a typical material Project and is Director of due to its curious used by dormice in Japan, the Dormouse Museum habit of running but in Hungary this is in Kiyosato, Yamanashi along the underside replaced (in the case of hazel prefecture and Professor of of branches upside down. dormice) by dry grass. Kwansei Gakuin University The analysis of all this in Nishinomiya Hyogo PHYSICAL: soft hazel or brown fur with a dark dorsal stripe. accrued information is being prefecture. processed and will hopefully HABITS: hibernate during cold weather or times of little food. be published in a peer- Kristóf Hecker is the reviewed journal. But the Division Coordinator of BREEDING: Males mate with several females that produce a litter scientifi c fi ndings are only the International Council of about four in June/July. one part of the equation. for Game and Wildlife A strong friendship has Conservation (CIC), based in BEHAVIOUR: solitary, nocturnal and highly arboreal. Both sexes are vocal during mating. evolved through this Budakeszi, Hungary. close collaboration, which FEEDING: omnivorous, eats seeds, fruit, insects and birds eggs. cannot be described by any Th ey store food in their nests for later use. statistical analysis or data processing. We have had a very special experience

the dormouse monitor 5 volume 2 2012 How can dormice climb in the dark? Insights in I am a researcher in the shrews, water voles, bats, themselves when they climb specialist bit of software that Active Touch Laboratory at rats, and many species of and walk about. We can see measures the angles and the University of Sheffi eld. mouse at Wildwood. But in the picture below that speeds of whisker and head I work with a group of what was really exciting on the dormouse pushes its movements. researchers, led by Tony this particular trip, which we whiskers really far forward We think that Prescott, and our research made last summer, was that when it climbs, much more understanding more about focuses on a very special we were planning to fi lm so than the rat, who is how the dormouse senses touch system – the whisker climbing dormice for the another whisker specialist. and navigates around its touch system in mammals. very fi rst time. We think that because the environment could give key Every mammal (apart I am sure that if you look dormouse is a nocturnal insights into the ecology of from humans and some closely at dormice, one of the climber, it might be using its the species. For example, primates) has whiskers, but fi rst things you can’t help but sense of touch – its whiskers we could look at how the only some animals move notice is their huge whiskers. – to feel around in the dark animals use their whiskers their whiskers so they Dormice actually move these as it climbs. In particular, to cross between diff erent can actively feel around long whiskers forwards and it might scan ahead with branches, measuring the size their environments; we backwards really fast, in a its whiskers to fi nd good of the gaps that they are able call these animals ‘whisker movement called ‘whisking’. footholds. to cross. This might be useful specialists’. Through my This can occur at around 15 Our work with dormice is when designing dormouse work I have been fortunate times per second! Therefore, still very much in its infancy. corridors and bridges. While enough to encounter and we fi lm using a high-speed We have built some more dormice are often thought fi lm quite a few of these video camera at 500 frames climbing arenas and hope to to be relatively averse to whisker specialists, including per second so we can get collect some more dormouse crossing hedgerow gaps, harbour seals, rats and really lovely, clear footage footage in the future. We we observed the animals mice, but recently I found of dormice whisking. In are really interested in exploring gaps and crossing a new and exciting whisker addition, we fi lm in the dark identifying the whisker between them relatively specialist to add to my list – using infrared lighting to strategies that the dormice regularly. the dormouse. make everything as natural employ to make themselves We have had a lot of I work closely with the as possible for the animals. such agile, nocturnal success with our fi rst pilot Wildwood Trust in Kent, We notice, when we look climbers. In addition we also studies, and our footage where we are lucky to have at our videos, that not only need to quantify the whisker really shows dormice to be some research space on site do the dormice whisk their and climbing behaviours tactile specialists, exploring with access to their great whiskers back and forth that we see. We do this by their environment actively staff and animals. We have really fast, but they also using a ‘whisker tracking with their highly-developed previously fi lmed water use them to feel in front of programme’, which is a sense of touch. You may

6 the dormouse monitor volume 2 2012 s into dormouse whiskers have even seen some of our footage on BBC Springwatch recently, as they ran a feature on our work. We are really Grant Robyn pleased that the public can get to see dormice climbing and exploring around, rather than just sleeping, which so often is the only thing they see! We think that our footage gives new and exciting glimpses into the lives of dormice, and I am sure that we will be sharing some more exciting thoughts on dormice whiskers with you again soon.

Robyn Grant University of Sheffi eld Dormouse nests in strange places

South East Water staff have Ranger Simon Lohrey got The photos below were here vulnerable to traffi c been monitoring dormice at more than he bargained for taken in early May 2012 on a and grass cutting. Many Arlington Reservoir in East during a routine Health & busy trunk road in Devon. I hibernation nests I’ve Sussex for a couple of years. Safety check. He discovered always thought that dormice found have been outside It is entirely man-made and two dormice inside the would stay away from the woodlands in nearby areas before its construction in lifebelt housing. Simon said: edge of road verges during of rough grassland, heather, 1971 the site was an arable “They gave me quite a shock, the hibernation period as it bracken and/or bramble. farm. Consequently all the I’ve never found anything is exposed and tends to get With little or no ground layer habitat enhancements - like a dormouse in one of sprayed with salty water. The in the nearby woods perhaps planting woodland species, these before.” nest was very well insulated the verge is more attractive coppicing and laying hazel The dormice had made and bigger than any other for hibernation. Apparently hedges - have been carried their nest in the bottom hibernation nest I have seen it may take more than heavy out from scratch. right hand corner of the and the woven grassy core lorries to wake them up from Last year four baby dormice plastic housing just below was unmistakable. their deep sleep!

Richard Dyer Richard Dyer were found on site but then the lifesaving equipment. Although the chosen site The hedge behind the might put off potential Leo Gubert lifebelt was planted seven predators, it also makes Ecological Consultant years ago to link up the any dormice hibernating woodland blocks around the site - it is very pleasing to know this has worked. The lifebelt housing they were found in sits right against the hedge so is relatively easy to access. However they would still need to get to the inspection slits at the front of the housing.

Richard Dyer Senior Environmental Offi cer, South East Water

the dormouse monitor 7 volume 2 2012 Okehampton Primary School project

The children at Okehampton of dormouse experts that the past year Primary have fallen in love have been able to educate we have been with dormice. Following a and inspire us to appreciate learning about year’s whole-school project, our dormouse population the ecology and pupils, members of staff and and their habitats. conservation our wider school community Our school is the largest of the hazel have been touched by the primary school in Devon dormouse and beauty and scarcity of this (currently 630 pupils) its associated diminutive mammal! and cross-curricular, woodland We are fortunate in whole-school projects are habitats. As a Okehampton to have a small logistically challenging. result we have but thriving population of Indeed, this is the fi rst made new hazel dormice in many of our project of its kind for our and lasting surrounding woodlands. We school. Throughout relationships with alsoalso hhaveave a numbernumber manyman external organisationsorga andand have supportedsup them withwit practical work.wo The list of ourou associates includesinc People’sPe Trust forfo Endangered Species,Sp NationalN Trust, WoodlandW Trust,T DartmoorD Nationall on us all.ll Park,P Devon Mammal The ecology of the Society, Devon Hedges, dormouse and its habitat Hedgelink, Green Veins is only one aspect of our and Lanes, Highways project. To enhance our Agency,Agen Okehampton learning we decided at the DormouseDorm Monitoring onset of the project that we Group, Devon Wildlife Trust, wanted to have something Paignton Zoo and local tangible to share with our ecologists. learning community; we Our project was given an wanted to write a children’s exciting boost in September book about a Devonshire by the arrival of Dora, the dormouse! So we set three-legged dormouse. A about the ambitious task local hedges and dormouse of inspiring our pupils to enthusiast Paula Wolton write and illustrate it. We spent the entire day showing hope that eventually we Dora to as many children can submit our story to as possible whilst Dora a publisher but, in the slept through most of the meantime, we plan to print excitement. (Paula looks the book in-house to help after Dora as part of the raise the funds needed for dormouse captive breeding professional editing and programme at Paignton publishing. Zoo). Children from Nursery Learning about dormice up to Year 6 were all able to has been stimulating, experience, fi rst hand, what absorbing and fun. The a dormouse looks like, how project will continue this small it is and how cute it academic year with nest box is when curled up asleep making at our local college, Steve Morgan Steve creating a lasting impression nest box erection at local

8 the dormouse monitor volume 2 2012 Putting down new roots

Dormice are thriving in a achieve.” Peterborough wood - and Spurred on by the now a local farmer is helping dormouse revival, Clive them to branch out even Fuller from 1,150 acre Cross further afi eld. Leys Farm, is working with The Forestry Commission Cambridgeshire Wildlife found 27 dormice in boxes Trust and volunteers to erect in Bedford Purlieus Wood, boxes in hedgerows in his near Peterborough, during fi elds bordering Bedford the fi nal monthly check of Purlieus Wood. the year in October. Adults, Clive explained: “Our tall juveniles and babies were hedgerows have been recorded, most in good carefully managed as we health and with plenty of fat have been in stewardship to see them through their schemes and provide winter hibernation. vital wildlife havens. The The dormice were released Wildlife Trust asked me to into the 200 hectare help by putting up boxes woodland in 2001 as part in two long stretches of of the species recovery hedgerows running in programme to restore the diff erent directions from species to its former range. Bedford Purlieus Wood. I’m Cheryl Joyce, Forestry only too delighted to help. Commission ranger, said: The dormice have done well “Finding so many dormice in and I would love for them to our fi nal check is great news. spread through the area.” But what has really excited The original reintroduction us is that some animals at Bedford Purlieus was sitesit and, of course, the were found a long way from organised by Natural completion of the story. and hope that the fi nished the original release point, England and PTES, working We also plan to present an product will help to spread adding to our hopes that in partnership with the evening of dance carried our enthusiasm for the hazel they might soon spread into Forestry Commission. out by some of our younger dormouse far and wide. the surrounding countryside. The wood was declared a children. Children and That really is the next major National Nature Reserve in parents will also read their Frances Rickwood project landmark. It just 2000 in recognition of its own wonderful dormouse Teaching Assistant shows what sensitive habitat importance as a species- poetry. And there will be a Okehampton Primary School management allied to the rich semi-natural ancient

performance of a fabulous passion of volunteers can woodland. Morris Pat dormouse poem that was written for us by our local story teller Clive, who has also been involved in the project. July this year fi nished with a fl ourish as we are thrilled to say that we were awarded 2nd place in the annual Royal Forestry Society’s Schools Excellence Award for our work on the ecological importance of Devon’s hedgerows and their role in supporting dormice. We also received a Highly Commended Award for the Total Green School’s Award for our work. We greatly look forward to fi nishing our book this year

the dormouse monitor 9 volume 2 2012 Welsh dormice and other mammals

I currently monitor the Carmarthenshire managed ever been seen. But that was a valuable tool to help assess dormouse boxes we have by The Wildlife Trust for set to change. what they are doing around installed within Waun Las South & West Wales. There During the fi rst check of the county and the UK as a National Nature Reserve I had the opportunity to 2012, in March, a dormouse whole, and will hopefully at the National Botanic see and handle dormice for nest was identifi ed in one of help us to help them. Garden of Wales. Back in the fi rst time, and instantly the boxes. There was now Volunteers at the Garden 2009, whilst volunteering fell in love with them. no doubt that dormice were have been busily creating for Natasha De Vere, the Dormice are very elusive there, and they had come new boxes with a grant Head of Conservation and mammals, but under the across our boxes and were received from PTES. These Research at the Garden, an tuition of Jacqueline Hartley, using them for the fi rst time. have now been installed in opportunity to help check a local ecologist and fellow During the April visit, when other woodlands around the some dormouse boxes arose. dormouse enthusiast, I we fi nally arrived at the Waun Las NNR, to increase Many of the boxes had been slowly gained confi dence in box that the nest had been the monitoring eff ort, and in position for a number of handling these wonderful found in previously, I was hopefully help us to fi nd years, but approximately creatures. very pleased to discover a more dormice. 90 boxes, which had been I soon registered the Waun male dormouse in the nest. This fi nd is a positive donated to the Garden by Las NNR with the National It was in torpor and had no indicator of the status RSK Carter Ecological, had Dormouse Monitoring intention of waking up to of the dormouse in been installed by a previous Project (NDMP) run by say ‘hello’! It was a relatively Carmarthenshire. Another volunteer in 2008. So under PTES, and with the help of good weight of 19g, which record of the species in such the watchful eye of Anna volunteers began checking leads us to believe that an important area such as Hobbs, a volunteer and the boxes on a monthly it possibly came out of the Waun Las NNR at the dormouse licence holder, I basis. I now regularly check hibernation prematurely Gardens will help to raise the quickly learnt how to check over 100 boxes within the during the very warm profi le of the dormouse in the boxes and to confi dently Waun Las NNR. Wood mice weather we experienced in Carmarthenshire, and help to record their contents. Due to are regularly found using the February. It is thought that back up the tireless work and the apparent lack of dormice boxes, often with up to six it was then forced back into eff ort put in by many people at the Garden, I began found in one nest. Birds also a form of torpor due to the in the area to monitor and learning to handle small use the nest boxes during very cold and wet weather protect this wonderful and mammals by handling wood the spring, and pipistrelle that followed. elusive species. mice, successfully managing bats have been recorded There is still so much to to avoid getting bitten by using the boxes on two learn about dormice, and Rhian Lewis the lively rodents. occasions. Although a small we can assume all sorts Volunteer, National Botanic I also started helping number of signs had been of things, but regular Garden of Wales monitor some boxes at found, in the form of chewed monitoring like this, where Rhos Cefn Bryn, a site in hazelnuts, no dormice had data feeds into the NDMP, is

10 the dormouse monitor volume 2 2012 New dormouse training material

a training course. We are also making a series of videos ranging from health and safety to checking a box with multiple active dormice. These will be available on the website to help the trainers and as refreshers for the monitors. In April there were lots of comments on the forum about the diffi culty of sexing dormice. In response we were able to put out a request for photos and we put together a short presentation to It began with a concerned over a large sample size, that lists the skills you would be make it easier for monitors in monitor posting a message the proportion of young expected to acquire and a the fi eld to sex dormice. The on the forum querying how animals and the proportion place where experience can best photograph was from to catch and weigh the of escapees would remain be recorded. Chester but they cheated dormice running around relatively constant. The The next job was to ensure a bit – the animals were in the bottom of his bag. number of records with that consistent information anaesthetised, making it so Sexing them seemed either no ‘sex’ or no ‘weight’ is provided at dormouse much easier to sex them. completely impossible. This has been relatively stable training events. A number All the above information alerted us, here at PTES, to since 1988, but unfortunately of organisations like The and more is available on the need for some extra help the number of records where Mammal Society, Wildlife the PTES website. There is for monitors to help build up neither ‘sex’ nor ‘weight’ Trusts and IEEM run these information on woodland both skills and confi dence. has been recorded has events but as PTES maintains management but this is There are some excellent been rising steadily. This the NDMP and engages with certainly an area that we training programmes, implies that an increasing monitors through the forum would like to develop more. developed by local number of monitors are it is well placed to provide an We are currently linking dormouse groups including unable to handle and sex overview of the state of the with other conservation Kent, Surrey and Cheshire, dormice confi dently and nation’s dormice. A series of organisations to try and and while these work well that there was a greater presentations and associated develop both generic locally there appeared to need to improve training for notes on dormouse ecology, woodland management be a training and skill gap dormouse workers. conservation, legislation, practices that benefi t the at a national level. Looking Working with CCW and NE, how to enter data into the widest range of species and through the biometric PTES collated the existing NDMP and other information means by which they can be dormouse data within training material from was created. demonstrated. the NDMP there are some local dormouse groups to The aim has been to If you have anything that startling gaps. The data produce the Dormouse provide material to help you think would be helpful recorded include ‘sex’, Training Log. It took a while, trainers provide a more to others, might help ‘activity’, ‘weight’, ‘breeding longer in fact than the Health consistent dormouse course. dormouse conservation in condition’ and ‘age’. Where Reform Bill to meander its It is recognised that a good Britain and should be on the ‘sex’ or ‘weight’ are not way through parliament but, training course gives the website, please let us know. recorded it implies that fi nally, in April 2012 there trainee both the benefi t either the animals were too was a version that everyone of the trainers experience Ian White, Dormouse Offi cer young to sex or weigh, they liked. So now when we are in the fi eld and often their People’s Trust for escaped, or the monitor asked the question by future fi rst sighting of a dormouse. Endangered Species lacked the confi dence to dormouse workers ‘what It is strongly advised that handle or reliably sex the do I need to do to get my anyone wishing to work www.ptes.org/ animals. One would expect, dormouse licence?’,the log towards their licence attends dormousetraining

the dormouse monitor 11 volume 2 2012 How to start a dormouse support group

The Warwickshire Dormouse very exciting one – assisting Survey 1999 and the site by chewing the cable Conservation Group was the release of captive-bred subsequent Strategy for the ties which held shut the created in December 2009 dormice in Warwickshire. Our Conservation of Dormice in feeding doors. Assuming to support the objectives fi rst task was putting up nest Warwickshire 2001, both by that the interference had of the county’s Common boxes. It was very cold but Dr. Stefan Bodnar for Natural been carried out by ‘do- Dormouse Local Action members seemed to enjoy England. gooders’ we posted hand- Plan, including fi nding out it. After all the snow we had Co-ordination of the written messages on the if Warwickshire had more had it was nice to wake up groups’ activities is carried cages, asking people to sites than the one known on Sunday 17th January and out by email and short leave them alone. We then natural population at Weston fi nd it had all disappeared, newsletters, each of which replaced the cable ties with Wood. Since then the group leaving a beautiful crisp so far has had the names of metal clips only to fi nd that has grown to an impressive morning. What better way at least two new members. these too were opened. 48 members, at least half of to spend it than helping There is currently no website Only agricultural D-clips whom are actively involved with a bit of dormouse it would be a great thing to foiled the attackers, which in fi eldwork, and 27 ‘friends’ conservation. Many people have if someone had the we fi nally realised were who receive the newsletters joined the fi rst event of the time to manage it. squirrels - judging from the without being harassed for group, which was a great Despite fi nding no new tooth marks on the chewed help! The youngest ‘friend’ opportunity to meet other dormouse sites yet, three original cable clips! is Bethany, an 11 year old volunteers who had all been years on, the group has had How are members guide who has chosen to kind enough to sacrifi ce their other successes. Field work motivated? This has never study dormice for her ‘animal lie-in for the sake of a small in the fi rst year involved been a problem as there active’ badge. The group is rodent that would spend half 29 members carrying out are now probably more supported by Warwickshire its life snoring away. 55 visits to eight locations members than dormice County Council’s Biological This was followed by the which was a fantastic in the county. Most of the Record Centre. installation of 300 nest tubes commitment and led to members are ecologists or Having resolved to start in four woodlands in the subsequent networking naturalists and therefore such a group when I retired spring and the subsequent between people who might well motivated. They are also from my job as Local checking of them in the otherwise not have met. The busy people but pleased to Biodiversity Action Plan autumn, at the same time creation of the group has help out with fi eldwork as it Co-ordinator, I sent an email carrying out nut hunts also spawned several surveys gives them an opportunity outlining my ideas to local at other woods. At this by local wildlife groups and to get away from their professional and amateur point the group became one individual survey for an desks and into the woods. contacts - thank goodness dependent on help from MSc dissertation. If this were not the case I had kept my address members with dormouse There have been some then regular meetings with book. To my surprise I had handling licences. The survey amusing moments too. speakers might be necessary a huge response and was programme was based on a Grey squirrels provided but there has been no further fortunate in that report completed after the us with a challenge at demand for meeting purely the fi rst assignment was a Warwickshire Dormouse the 2009 reintroduction socially. There is however no break in the conversation while members are working! How often does the group meet? The frequency of meetings is dictated by the fi eld work that needs doing in accordance with the aims of the group - i.e. to survey as many of Warwickshire’s woodlands as possible through nut hunts and install nest tubes where it seems possible there may be dormice present. This is essentially in the autumn and spring which seems to suit the members, many of whom are busy with their consultancy work throughout the summer. Weekends seem the most

12 the dormouse monitor volume 2 2012

popular times – with buns WDCG nut hunting, at at coff ee time - but the painting tetra-pak nest tubes and putting feeding of the reintroduced them up in the woods dormice during the summer months was a weekday activity as well. No problems getting help for that job, not surprisingly, as in the early The group now weeks the dormice were still has only 180 nest in the cages and often seen. tubes in the fi eld Photos: K Martin,Photos: R Moff J Underhill, How is the work of the although it will be group funded? There is no expanding fi eldwork fee for membership which in 2012 through the keeps it simple though Warwickshire Wildlife has the disadvantage that Trust Princethorpe members cannot claim Woodlands Project for transport. This could funded by both SITA however be changed by and PTES. Should a becoming affi liated to a new site be found money-holding organisation then funding would such as a local Wildlife Trust. have to be sought to The only materials needed buy nest boxes. so far are nest tubes –the I hope that the fi rst 200 nest tubes were group continues to made out of Tetrapak cartons go from strength (details can be supplied to strength, as I - very time consuming hope the dormouse and do not last more than population of two seasons), another 100 Warwickshire will too. were bought with a grant from PTES, 50 were given Ruth Moff at, in gratitude for help with Warwickshire the reintroduction and 30 Dormouse donated by a consultant. Conservation Group

SUSSEX HELPERS WANTED

In 2009 we had a dozen or so NDMP In 2010 six people, who had nearly nest boxes and has off ered to help set sites in Sussex so we organised enough experience to get their up new NDMP sites to target areas of a meeting of existing dormouse licences, attended a handling course under-recorded areas, especially in licence holders to set up the Sussex at Wildwood Discovery Park to give mid-Sussex. Dormouse Network. The idea was that them that little extra experience that In autumn 2011 we organised a we could train new surveyors, share they needed. And 24 people attended social ‘Dormice and Hedges’ evening, information about making/sourcing ‘Dormouse Fest’ on the Isle of Wight, where 50 surveyors and Sussex boxes, and set up more NDMP sites which I organised in conjunction Hedgerow Inventory Project surveyors to fi nd out more about how the with Ian White from PTES. Valuable came along to hear all about local and species is faring in Sussex. So we set experience was gained at PTES’s national projects. We now have over up a Google Group e-forum in order Briddlesford Woods. We learnt about 45 NDMP sites in Sussex, and new sites to keep in contact and the Sussex handling, fi eld craft and woodland are popping up as I write! Biodiversity Record Centre funded two management to help dormice. training courses, one at Wakehurst Gradually newly licenced people If you would like to be involved with Place and one at Mallydams Wood, began to set up more NDMP sites the Sussex Dormouse Network then with 38 people attending overall. in Sussex. There are still quite a few please email pennygreen@sussexwt. We then developed a ‘buddy’ system people getting experience and we’re org.uk or call 01273 497521. We are where beginners were linked with hoping more volunteers will get always looking for licence holders who experienced licence holders in order their licences soon. We have a keen are happy to take out newbies, so any to help get their licences. member who is making hundreds of help is welcome.

the dormouse monitor 13 volume 2 2012 Branching out: planting trees for less

Do you know anyone proposed land is suitable for beautiful new young wood and has helped us enhance with dormice present on planting and to talk about that both they and dormice habitat for a whole host of their land who may be possible site designs. Careful can enjoy for years to come. wildlife, not just dormice. interested in planting trees thought is then put into What’s good for dormice is to extend their habitat? If the planting plan to make Create something special also good for so many other they live in Surrey, Sussex, sure the design delivers the for the future species.” Kent or Hampshire, then greatest benefi ts for dormice the Woodland Trust’s pilot and, in time, fl ourishes into Lorna and Dave Rowney- Hurry - don’t miss out ‘MOREwoods for dormice’ woodland the owner will Smith in East Sussex were grant may be the perfect be proud of. A mix of native the fi rst to take advantage This generous off er can’t opportunity. species favoured by dormice of this great off er. They last forever so people are chosen to ensure the planted 1,300 native trees interested in planting trees How does MOREwoods for new wood is as wildlife on a fi eld alongside Denture are encouraged to talk to dormice work? friendly as possible. Shaw, a small area of ancient the Woodland Trust or PTES If the site is suitable, the woodland already populated as soon as possible. As this Working in partnership Woodland Trust can provide by dormice at Hugget’s is only a pilot scheme, if it is with the People’s Trust for support for up to 80% of the Furnace Farm. The new successful there may be the Endangered Species, the cost of trees and necessary trees will increase the total opportunity to extend it into Woodland Trust is off ering protection, meaning that amount of woodland and other counties but only if to support people through creating new woodland is help dormice move through there is demand. every stage of creating an aff ordable, stress-free the landscape to other If you are interested in new woodland. It starts and rewarding experience. nearby woods and hedges. planting woodland for with a visit from your local And with expert advice on “Dave has always wanted dormice and wildlife, or if woodland creation adviser, aftercare and maintenance, to plant a wood but we you’d like to create a new Luke Everitt, to check the people are left with a thought it would be too wood for other reasons such expensive to do” as fi rewood, please contact says Lorna. “The Luke Everitt on 0845 293 MOREwoods 5689. You can also email scheme gave us the morewoods@woodlandtrust. advice and grant org.uk or visit woodlandtrust. access we needed, org.uk/morewoods.

14 the dormouse monitor volume 2 2012 Donkeys and dormice in Devon

The Donkey Sanctuary, just House Farm, are littered with nest box from kits fabricated mixed woodland of some 46 outside Sidmouth, is the dormouse-nibbled hazelnuts by the charity’s carpenter. hectares owned entirely by largest donkey sanctuary and, with over 250,000 Each kit is pre-cut and pre- the charity known as Lower in the world, currently visitors to this site every drilled and takes about 10 Chelston Wood. caring for more than 2,000 year, it off ers an amazing minutes to screw together This initial wooden box donkeys on some 1,200 opportunity to engage for most families, providing scheme will be supported acres located in the heart with people about wildlife enough of a challenge to be by two further tube schemes of the East Devon AONB. conservation. rewarding, without proving aimed at evaluating the When people fi rst think of East Devon is fortunate a tiresome distraction from value of the Sanctuary’s the sanctuary the image to have a number of their visit! hedgerows to dormice, with that springs to mind tends very knowledgeable Once made, these boxes the tubes once again made to be of our more elderly mammal ecologists were destined for use in the with volunteer assistance. charges, stoically seeing working commercially project, each numbered box Adrian will lead a core out their years safe from and voluntarily within its being ‘adopted’ by the family team of volunteer trainees the demands of overwork bounds, many of whom I who made it. Box makers, to conduct the dormouse or out-and-out cruelty. Less have been lucky enough as well as other interested monitoring project in appreciated is the fact that to work with in previous parties who come on board accordance with the the Sanctuary is also home conservation roles. To get as the project grows, will standard PTES guidelines, to a wealth of wildlife and it The Donkey Sanctuary’s receive an e-newsletter with the project aff ording was with this in mind that dormouse monitoring to inform them of how local volunteers the ability my appointment was made. project underway I sought the scheme is faring and to work towards licenses I started at the charity the guidance of licensed highlighting opportunities to of their own. As the box in November 2011, after dormouse surveyor Adrian get involved further. scheme matures, it is working for the local Bayley to co-ordinate the So, that resolved the issue hoped that small groups Countryside Service for six project, with as much of creating our fi rst 50 boxes of local people will be able years. My role is, in part, to support and practical for the scheme. to join the team on survey develop projects connected assistance as was needed The boxes have been days and get a fi rst-hand with the farms owned by from me, operating as his located in woodland away introduction to the world of The Donkey Sanctuary and, trainee. from our main visitor site, this fascinating mammal. after a very short scrabble Adrian and I agreed that distributed in a 5x10 grid and search below a hazel public engagement as well with boxes placed every James Chubb stool for nibbled nuts, I knew as formal education would 20 metres within the grid. Events & Activities Manager that dormice would play an underpin as much of the The chosen woodland The Donkey Sanctuary, important part in this work. monitoring project as was contains old unworked hazel Sidmouth The old hedgerows within feasible. This ethos started coppice, a small coupe of the Weston Valley, along with at the very beginning, with sweet chestnut plantation, For more information, an old coppice, small wet visitors to the Sanctuary small conifer plantation, but please email james.chubb@ woodland and secondary during the school summer mainly secondary woodland thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk ash woodland here at the holidays being invited to with occasional veteran or call on 01395 573162. charity’s main site at Slade make their own dormouse trees and is part of a larger Mark Sharman

the dormouse monitor 15 volume 2 2012 And fi nally...

Do you ever have an idea or question about dormouse monitoring, conservation or research that you would like to discuss with or ask other dormouse monitors? Or news about your project that you would like to share? If you do then please sign up for the NDMP dormouse google forum. Once you’ve joined the group you simply post a question and wait for the responses. There are currently over 350 members of the forum, so there’s no better audience for your dormouse dilemmas. To join the forum, please email susan.sharafi @ptes.org.

DORMICE ON BIRD FEEDERS This year has been an odd one. We surveyed 68 boxes and 28 tubes in June, July, September and October and didn’t fi nd a nest or dormouse in any. However we’ve had just as many on our feeders as in past years and found two natural sites in bramble, so they are obviously about.

David Bannister, Devon

AND FINALLY, what do you give a dormouse enthusiast for Christmas or their birthday? What about a beautiful solid silver hazelnut pendant?

PTES has a small number of these limited edition nuts remaining from our Great Nut Hunt promotion and we are off ering them to Dormouse Monitor readers. The nuts were specially commissioned and only 20 were made so they are very collectable Each one costs just £2.50 as well as beautiful. The and is blank inside for your silver hazelnut costs £49.99 own message. including p&p. For more information or to Or why not buy one of our place an order please email dormouse greeting cards? Susan.sharafi @ptes.org.

16 the dormouse monitor