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Did you know that dormice are now one of
Europe’s most threatened mammals? As Reserves Officer, I work to
manage four of our precious nature reserves for dormice. I am
asking you to donate to our appeal so we can do even more for
this wonderful animal.
I spend much of my time at
Croes Robert Wood,
keeping it in top condition for dormice and other rare wildlife.
Every month I take a team round to check the dormouse nest
boxes.
Last year’s monitoring confirmed that we still
have one of the best sites in Britain for this species, and the
initial 2007 results are also encouraging. |
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Two years ago we took on a management agreement from
the Forestry Commission for 30 acres of Wet Meadow Wood, next to Croes
Robert. We are restoring this to natural coppice woodland. We have put
up 100 dormice boxes in Wet Meadow Wood. Some are already being used –
we are confident that numbers are increasing. Our woodland coppicing for
dormice costs over £20,000 a year.
We produce charcoal from the coppice wood, and
charcoal sales provide valuable income, but this only covers a fraction
of the cost of the work. We need your financial support to keep our work
going.
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£13 buys two dormouse nest boxes
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£50 is the annual cost of managing 0.1 acre of
woodland for dormice
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£100 is needed to support a day’s coppicing
volunteer work task
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My band of volunteers and I spend the winter
cutting small coppice coups to keep a pattern of dense cover.
From spring onwards, we make high-quality barbecue charcoal for
local sale. It is satisfying work, but the weather, steep slopes
and sticky ground makes it hard, whilst emptying the charcoal
kilns must be one of Wales’ dirtiest jobs!
At New Grove Meadows, Springdale Farm and
Pentwyn Farm, we have designed special shelter belts, full of a
range of shrubs which provide a rich food source for dormice. At
Pentwyn, these are already providing a thick low canopy, perfect
for the species.
Soon we will start coppicing sections to make
sure we keep a dense thicket. At all of these nature reserves we
have protected hedges from grazing, and used traditional
hedge-laying to further improve the habitat. |
Our commitment to safeguarding Gwent’s dormice runs
right through Gwent Wildlife Trust. We are leading on the Gwent Species
Action Plan for dormice. We try to make sure planning proposals avoid
dormouse habitat. Our Gwent Grassland Initiative staff are always quick
to raise the possibility that woods, hedges and bramble patches might
support dormice when visiting landowners around Gwent.
If you
donate to this important appeal, please get in touch, as a limited
number of supporters who want to see this beautiful animal can join me
on our monthly dormouse box round (remember this involves steep slopes
and slippery ground).
Please help us keep Gwent internationally important
for dormice. We desperately need the money to keep this work going. You
can also support our work by:-
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Buying our barbecue charcoal from the office and
other outlets around Gwent
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Artists can buy their charcoal from us too!
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Volunteering on the Thursday work tasks
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Becoming a voluntary warden
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Surveying hedges, scrub patches and woods to find
hazel nuts opened by dormice
Thank you very much for supporting our vital work.
Please download our
appeal form or contact the Trust.
Help with the South
Wales Dormouse Survey covering the whole of South Wales.
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