Share

Discovering dormice at Monkwood

Building dormouse tunnels by Julie Grainger

Charlie completes a survey of Monkwood's mammals with some exciting finds...

Hello again!

Just as I suspected, it has been an incredibly busy and action packed three months since my last blog. I previously mentioned that my time with Worcestershire Wildlife Trust felt like it was passing incredibly quickly. Sadly, it feels like the accelerator pedal is still firmly pressed to the floor! Recent tasks have included repairing steps along a footpath at Hunthouse Wood, a bat survey with the Worcestershire Wildlife Consultancy and my first outing with the BCS mower. There's been much more but, for now, I’d like to focus on a recent highlight that you may find particularly interesting.

Back in May (which feels like last week), I spent time in the Wyre Forest learning the basics of all things dormice. From learning how the woodland is managed to aid dormice to their diets and housing arrangements, I was hooked instantly. I knew that should the opportunity of dormouse-related work arise in future, I’d do my best to get involved.

Fast-forward a few months to September, an exciting day at Green Farm presented itself. We were to help in setting up 70 dormouse footprint tunnels along Green Farm’s ancient hedgerows. Our manager Andy took charge in showing us and the volunteers how to set up a footprint tunnel; it's remarkably simple and very effective. They're made from plastic downpipe and have wooden inserts inside them with a strip of paper secured to the wood and homemade ink at both ends of the paper. It’s a great way to check for dormouse activity without disturbing the nesting dormice.

Conservation trainees and volunteers building dormouse tunnels on a Land Rover

Building dormouse tunnels by Julie Grainger

All of us swiftly set to work building the tunnels. Some volunteers arranged them in numerical order, while others stuck the paper strips to the wooden inserts. My job was cutting two pieces of wire for each tunnel – these would be used to attach them to the hedgerow. Working along a production line, we had all 70 tunnels ready to go in 20 minutes.

After a quick snack, we started attaching the footprint tunnels to the hedgerow. Truthfully, It was tricky fighting through the brambles with my secateurs to get the tunnels into the best positions. It was also difficult hanging them up amongst the complicated layout of the hedge’s internals - it was like battling through a spiky maze. Despite the challenges, we all managed to set up the footprint tunnels in good time, ready for the October survey.

On the topic of surveying, Andy made a good day into an even better one. Once we arrived back at base, he invited the conservation trainee team to join him at Monkwood the following weekend for a dormouse nest box survey. I couldn’t decline such an offer – since my journey to Ribbesford Wood in May, I have been itching to get out there and do another next box survey.

Trainee Charlie checking a dormouse box at Monkwood

Dormouse checking at Monkwood

After waiting what felt like an eternity for the weekend to arrive, new trainee Matt and I joined Andy and previous-trainee Catharine at Monkwood to begin the survey of 150 dormouse boxes (some of which we had set up earlier in the year).

Following our map of all the dormouse boxes, we wasted no time in walking down to the start of the transect. Catharine led the way, battling through brambles and scrub to get to the start, whilst I stood back and watched – I guess you could say I was being morally supportive. Shortly after, a fantastic discovery was made; the first naturally made dormouse nest in eight years! Carefully woven through three crossing bramble branches, I had never seen a nest outside of a dormouse nest box, so this was really special to see. Sadly, there was no-one home but Andy then informed me that dormice can have up to 10 nests, so they could be nearby.

Natural dormouse nest hidden in a hedgerow. There is a card measuring its width above.

Natural dormouse nest by Catharine Jarvis

A dormouse being held between hands

A dormouse discovered in a box

Continuing from the natural nest, we found our way to the first nest boxes. Initially we didn’t find too much, other than some critters making good use of the space we’d put up. But less than 20 minutes later into our survey, Andy called us over as he had, at the very least, two dormice in the next box he was inspecting. We all tried to wait patiently but secretly we were desperate to look inside! We readied our spring-scales and weighing bags as Andy lifted the lid off the nest box. I stood astonished; we were greeted by seven young dormice and Mum in one nest box. All the youngsters weighed around the 7g mark; a brilliant result so early  in the survey.

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole survey, it was a truly fantastic day. Over the course of one morning in Monkwood, we found 10 dormice, one yellow-necked mouse, a shrew and a wide variety of invertebrates in the boxes. Honestly, I was rather gutted when it was time to go home! However I’m happy to be off to Ribbesford Wood again next month, which isn’t far away. With how quickly time is passing by currently, I’m sure I’ll be seeing more dormice very soon.

Related blog posts