South Wales Dormouse Survey
A new survey is being launched in south Wales this autumn, to help us find out more about which of our woodlands are host to one of our most loved woodland species, the dormouse.
Dormice are quite small creatures, weighing about the same as two £1 coins. They are bright golden in colour, with a thick furry tail and large black eyes. Dormice are easily distinguished from other mammals, but they are nocturnal so you are very unlikely to come across them on a stroll in the countryside.
Although we already know we have dormice on several of our reserves, our general knowledge of dormouse distribution at a local level in South Wales is still quite poor. So, we are appealing for enthusiastic volunteers to help out with a bit of detective work. We want you to go out looking for discarded hazelnut shells in their local woodlands and along hedgerows. Like many other small mammals, dormice eat hazelnuts, which they open in their own particular way leaving the shell with very distinctive marks. With a little bit of practice, it’s fairly easy to identify which nuts have been opened by dormice, and which by other small mammals.
The South Wales Dormouse Survey is a joint project between 14 local authorities in South Wales, Gwent Wildlife Trust, the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and the Countryside Council for Wales.
Bridgend County Borough Council has produced a Dormouse Survey information pack which provides you with all the information required to take part in the survey. A second survey pack has also been produced which gives tips on how to organise a nut hunt as part of a school or community group event. You can download both of these documents below. They also contain information about dormice and pictures to help you recognise their distinctive nibblings. So, please get nutty, get hunting, and have fun!
To download the General survey pack click here
To download the Survey pack for groups and schools click here