North Wales Wildlife Trust

Latest News (updated June 2010)

Surveys and Sites

Work on the hazel dormouse has been carried out across North Wales since 2007. During this time over 900 dormouse boxes have been erected, and 14 new dormouse locations have been found. The majority of the new locations now have boxes up and are being monitored on a regular basis.

Habitat Work

As well as looking for new sites and undertaking surveys much other work has been carried out to raise awareness about dormice, and also, during the last year habitat management to improve that habitat for dormice.

Hedgerow Planting

The work has included fencing off areas and planting hedges between Coed Fron Wyllt and surrounding woodlands where dormice are known to be present. Hopefully in time this will act as a “highway" for the dormice.

Woodland work

The other habitat work which was carried out was woodland improvement work in three woodlands around the Chwiler valley. This involved glade creation and coppicing work. The glade creation has opened up space in the woodlands which will allow more light to the woodland floor and allow natural regeneration to occur.

The woodland which was coppiced was a derelict coppice, which had not been coppiced for many years, without undertaking the management many of the stools would have decayed and have been lost.

Raising awareness

photo of kids Throughout this project there have been numerous events aimed at different ages and groups, from school group talks and activities, attending shows, walks with the blind, welsh learner walks and dormouse training days. Many people of different ages attended and many people inspired by dormice.

A dormouse postcard was also produced and sent out to people living in close proximity to known or possible dormouse sites, to raise awareness and illustrate the signs of dormice. This was very successful resulting in numerous records being received.

You can download the postcard (.pdf 3MB) below, and send us your records if you think you have dormice nearby