Somerset Wildlife Trust Talk: 'The Hunt for the Stourhead Dormouse'

The Somerset Wildlife Trust South East Area Group's final illustrated talk of the season takes place on Tuesday 7 May at Caryford Hall, Ansford.

The subject is 'The Hunt for Stourhead Dormice' by Tamsin Holmes who is a ranger with the National Trust. For the past four years she has been working on a project at Stourhead to see whether the estate is home to the endangered Hazel Dormouse.

They are nocturnal and only active between April and November, so finding them is not easy, particularly as they live in hedgerows and tree canopies. During the winter they hibernate below ground.

To help increase dormouse numbers, Tamsin and her team have sited special dormouse nest boxes around the estate; and the woodland and hedges are carefully managed to encourage the dormouse - and other wildlife.

If you would like to learn more about these fascinating and rarely seen little creatures, come and hear Tamsin's talk on 7th May. The venue is Caryford Hall, Ansford, Castle Cary, BA7 7JJ. The talk starts at 8.00pm, coffee and tea are served from 7.30pm. Entrance is £2.00 for adults, but children are free. Non-members are welcome, and the hall is fully accessible.

Comments

Nick Colbert
Posts: 1

Dormice
Reply #1 on : Thu May 02, 2013, 11:12:52

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I found a dormouse nest in my log-store a few months ago, we also have loads of slow worms that are also an endangered species.

davidsmith
Posts: 1

Slow worms
Reply #2 on : Thu May 02, 2013, 11:33:59

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My parents have had 'standard' mice in their loft. But they've also had slow worms in the garden for many years. I presume they're still about. Perhaps they're not so endangered anymore.

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