Share

Help Protect Dormice

Lowri Watkins

Learn what you can do to help protect and restore dormice populations in your local area!

You may have seen in recent posts that dormice are in danger. Since 2000, it is estimated that there has been a 70% decline in Hazel Dormouse populations. Here's what actions we're implementing to help: 

  • Monitoring populations in nest boxes
  • Training new staff and volunteers to gain their dormouse handling license
  • Trialing new survey techniques – footprint tunnels
  • Managing our woodlands to protect and encourage habitats which will benefit dormice
  • Managing hedgerows to provide links between

But what can you do to help Dormice populations in your area? 

Torpid dormouse in hand

Lowri Watkins

If you're a landowner with hedgerows that border your fields, there are a few things that you can do. Hedgerows are of vital importance as habitats in their own right and as corridors for connectivity. 

To help, you can: 

  • Avoid cutting them too often! Cut them on a 3 year cycle, alternating sides. Generally a taller, wider hedgerow will have more value.
  • Avoid cutting all hedgerows in the same year, so there are always resources available.
  • When cutting, you should avoid the bird breeding season (March-August), and should ideally be left until January/February so the berries are all available to wildlife.

If you own or manage small woodland, check out the Managing Small Woodlands for Dormice advice.

If you're not a landowner, there are still some things you can do to help, such as:

  • Go for a walk in the woods and look for nibbled hazel nuts!
  • Tell us if you've seen a dormouse in your garden, local woodland or hedgerow using the National Dormouse Database
  • Join local mammal or dormouse groups, or volunteer with local conservation groups.
  • Do a Footprint Tunnel Survey and let us know the results!

Related blog posts