to survey new areas of Cheshire to ascertain whether a wild population of Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) still exists in the country. A dormouse re-introduction programme is under discussion.
But, before that, woodlands would need to be surveyed to find out if there were any existing remnant populations. For that, they used nest tubes and nest boxes places in areas seemed to be suitable dormouse habitat (including areas managed for shooting). Any new woodland sites managed by BASC members having high potential for the species has been included within the monitoring programmes. Since the beginning of the Green Shoots project a total of 11 woodlands have been surveyed for dormice using nest tubes and/or nest boxes.
Over the years a number of these sites have had the boxes and tubes taken down and, in 2010, six sites were being monitored.
A successful funding bid made to the SITA trust in late 2010 to undertake a landscape scale connected habitat network for dormice project in Southwest Cheshire will ensure that the Green Shoots project officer will be able to dedicate the majority of his time to this species, its associated habitats and ensuring targets set out under the CrBAP (Cheshire region Biodiversity Action Plan) are achieved.
Country: United Kingdom
Region: Cheshire County
Starting date: 2007
Species: Dormouse (Muscardinus Avellanarius)
Species characteristics: Protected species, Threatened species
Type of actions: Research and data collection
Leading partners: Cheshire Wildlife Trust (http://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/)
