Excitingly, Dormice were recently rediscovered in our Gelli Hir Woods Nature Reserve in 2024. Before this they hadn't been recorded on Gower since the early 2000s. This project was designed to see whether there is a population elsewhere on Gower.
Using maps, local knowledge and site visits, eight survey transects have been chosen. These are a mix of our nature reserves, Natural Resources Wales woodland, and two privately owned farms.
© Paul Thornton
We use Dormouse track tunnels to identify where they are present. Small mammals and other creatures walk through an inkpad and leave footprints on blotting paper. The footprints allow us to identify which species have walked through the tunnel.
A team of over 20 volunteers have installed over 400 tunnels in suitable habitat on sites from Bishopston in the East to Llanrhidian in the West. They are supported by consultant ecologist Di Clark, Koru Ecology Associates.
The tunnels will be checked by small volunteer teams fortnightly until October. At the end of the survey season, a report will be written up with the results.
We are secretly hopeful for positive results. Site visits confirmed some excellent potential dormouse habitats. And, when putting out the tunnels at one of our reserves in Ilston, an observant volunteer spotted a dormouse nibbled hazelnut.
There is a lot of survey dormouse effort happening on Gower this summer. National Trust Gower and Swansea Council both also have track tunnel survey transects. Also, in Gelli Hir, council ecologist Kathryn Mach has installed and is monitoring 50 nest boxes.
This project is funded by the Nature Networks Programme. It is being delivered by the Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government.
