The Forest of Selwood Dormouse Project
Current research has identified the need for large, landscape-scale approaches to dormouse conservation, alongside continued evidence gathering to inform targeted steps towards species recovery. The use and importance of riparian habitats by dormice is not currently well understood, yet these habitats provide potentially important networks throughout many landscapes, including the Forest of Selwood.
The Forest of Selwood Dormouse Project is centred around the establishment of a long-term study of riparian habitat use by dormice, which is embedded within local communities. Working within existing landowner networks, as well as engaging with new audiences, the project is establishing an extensive landscape-scale dormouse monitoring programme.
The surveys our licenced ecologists conduct are helping to build an understanding of how dormouse populations are doing, what habitats they are using and how we might better support them in this landscape.
Why are dormice so special?
Sadly, due to habitat loss and degradation, particularly due to poor management of woodland and hedgerows, compounded by climate change, these sleepy tree climbers have faced a staggering 70% decline in population size between 2000 and 2022 and are therefore now listed as vulnerable to extinction on the UK ICUN red list (Wembridge et al, 2023). https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/13992/197519168
https://ptes.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/State-of-Britains-Dormice-2023.pdf
Over the years, through long-term monitoring projects like ours, we have come to understand that dormice are a key indicator species; where they are abundant it is likely lots of other species will be thriving too.
The Forest of Selwood Dormouse Project
With the help of two grants to date, a seed-corn grant from Natural England, and Farming in Protected Landscapes grants, we have achieved:
- Establishment of new dormouse survey areas using 50 dormouse boxes per site.
- We have also used nesting tubes on some of the sites this year.
- Set up the dormouse monitoring resource library where we lend out dormouse survey equipment and support for people to survey for dormice
- Established the dormouse project volunteer group
Developed working maps of dormouse records and habitat - Delivered talks and workshops on dormouse ecology, survey and monitoring techniques and how to get involved with the project.
In 2025, Dormouse Project proved hugely successful.
With the help of volunteers, ecologists working on the project have installed nest tubes, boxes and footprint tunnels in various locations across the Forest of Selwood, largely focusing on riparian habitats or the habitats found along streams and water bodies. The tubes and nest boxes provide suitable nesting locations for dormice, and we can tell whether they are present by looking for their distinctive woven nests and for the dormice themselves. Volunteers have also used footprint tunnels in some location to detect whether dormice may be present.
A total of 42 dormice and 93 or their delicate woven nests were found in 15 out of 17 sites surveyed. Even as experienced license holders, encountering dormice on checks is very exciting, many ‘eeks’ of excitement were whispered.
Here are some of the key numbers from 2025:
Sites with dormice | 15 of 17 surveyed |
Total number of dormice encountered | 42 |
Total number of nests found | 93 |
Highest number of dormice found during one site check | 11 |
Highest number of nests on one site check | 18 |
The most dormice in one nest box | 4 |
Heaviest, pre-hibernation dormouse | 31g |
Lightest, pre-hibernation dormouse | 8g |
This is the first year of surveying at many of the Selwood sites and although we don’t have the comparable data, as experienced surveyors, we know this has been a fantastic year* for dormice – as reported in many other areas across the country.
Dormice are much more adaptable and versatile than we previously thought. Although they are commonly associated with hazel, they in fact feed on a vast array of insects, fruits, nuts – evidence shows that their diet varies depending on the habitats they are found in. Within one of our survey tubes, one dormouse left evidence of a picnic of fruits and berries! Our project is so important to help enhance this growing understanding of dormice and allow us to better protect them.
What’s next?
Now that the dormice have moved into hibernation, our surveys have come to a close. In the spring, we will clean out the boxes and collect up nest tubes. We are hoping that the project will receive grant funding to enable us to continue to carry out these surveys well into the future.
Thank you to all of the landowners, land managers, volunteers and ecologists who have been a part of this project in 2025. It has been an exciting and busy year, and we look forward to seeing what we will discover in 2026.
*Mast year
2025 has been what’s referred to as a mast year, which is when certain species of trees and shrubs produce an unusually large crop of fruits, nuts and seeds. It happens every 5-10 years and is a plants way of protecting itself from high predation and ensuring sufficient seeds survive to germination and go on to become saplings. A mast year is often followed by subsequent years of lower yield whilst the tree or shrub replenishes its energy. Mast years are of great benefit to wildlife and the surrounding ecosystems and usually coincide with a bumper breeding year for mice and small mammals generally. In 2025, the mild spring meant dormice were able to have litters in May, and the autumn abundant in fruits, berries, and tree nuts allowed them to have second litters into September. We saw lots of juveniles on checks well into October and found a lactating female in a box with juveniles later in the year than usually expected.
Sarah and Georgie tell us more about the Forest of Selwood Dormouse Project
How to set-up a Dormouse footprint tunnel
Surveying nesting boxes, eight juvanial and one adult dormice.
Talk about Dormouse Ecology & the Project
Thursday 14th November 2024, talk starts 7.00pm
Frome Town Hall, Christchurch Street
West Frome BA11 1EB
If you missed this one, we’ll doing more talks in the future.
A talk about Dormice by ecologists Sarah Hobbs & Georgina Starkie, who are particularly interested in protected species, and are running the Forest of Selwood Dormouse Project supported by the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme.
Dormice are an endangered species and we are lucky to still have them in our area. They are good indicators of animal and plant diversity. Dormouse-friendly habitats are also good for birds, bats and butterflies.
Come and hear about dormouse ecology, learn more about the project, gathering records in the area and how you might be able to help. This project is organised by the Forest of Selwood a local charity.