Britain’s population of the hazel dormice has rapidly declined, so this project hopes to provide records of their presence to help protect remaining numbers.  Dormice haven’t been recorded in the area yet, but with some excellent dormouse habitat this may be due to under-recording rather than their absence.  The species is rarely seen being active at night and preferring to forage for insects, flowers, fruit and nuts in dense shrubs and the tree canopy.

Project lead, Jane Hart, from the Tamar Valley AONB explained: “As dormice are nocturnal and protected from disturbance, we are following the dormouse footprint tunnel survey method – coordinated nationally by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species.  We also have excellent guidance from local dormouse expert Jen Bousfield, who has helped deliver our ‘Dormouse Detectives’ training workshops for community groups.

Jane continues, “We have established five survey sites in suitable hedge and woodland habitats which will be checked regularly for footprints of small mammals passing through the tunnels.  All results will be shared with our Dormouse Detectives who are also helping to collect the data.  Sites will additionally be assessed in late summer for dormouse-nibbled hazel nuts.”

Bere Alston and Buckland Monachorum schools, along with Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, are all getting involved – learning about the conservation status, life cycle, and habitat requirements of the hazel dormouse, assembling footprint tunnels and helping to set up field survey sites.  Additionally, the project has provided key learning activities on the importance of maintaining habitat connectivity for the dormouse and providing space for nature to support this and other species.