Dormouse recovery in Surrey

Members of the ‘Limpsfield Task Force', a volunteer group which regularly carries out work for the National Trust at Limpsfield and Regiate, erected a total of 50 dormouse boxes, purchased by the National Trust. Dave, who supervised the work, will train the volunteers to monitor the boxes for activity.

Dave said: "It may take a little time, but we're hoping the dormice will move in to the breeding boxes, give birth and raise their young over the summer months. They hibernate on the ground over winter but often return to the same site for breeding; if this project is successful it should make survival a bit less of a struggle for the dormice and lead to an increase in their numbers!"

Marc Russell, NT Warden for Reigate, said: "We are thrilled to find that we have dormice on the property, and it is great that we have been able to do something that will hopefully help the local dormouse population increase in numbers. As always, we are very grateful to the ‘Limpsfield Task Force' for their assistance with this project as with out them it would have been difficult to implement so quickly."

Dormouse decline
Dormouse numbers declined rapidly in England over the last two decades, but projects such as this are helping them to recover. They have recently been designated as a European protected Species, due to their rarity and vulnerability. This is mainly due to loss of habitat, especially nesting sites, caused by large-scale coppicing over recent years. Dormice are arboreal - meaning they live in trees - and they need to be able to move between them; coppicing causes big gaps and restricts their movements and feeding capabilities. There are only 12 known sites in Surrey where dormice are found; SWT is working to increase populations, having erected dormouse boxes in twenty of Surrey's woodland areas, and continuing to look for more suitable sites.