PTES staff, volunteers, and conservation partners unite to restore a cherished native species in Leicestershire
In March 2025, excitement rippled through the Bradgate Park Trust volunteer team. A new species reintroduction was on the horizon – but which one? Red squirrels? Pine martens? In April, the mystery was unveiled: hazel dormice were to make a long-awaited return, thanks to a reintroduction project led by People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES). Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood National Nature Reserve in Leicestershire was chosen as the release site, offering the perfect habitat.
Why Bradgate Park is perfect for dormice
This ancient woodland, with its stretches of managed hazel coppice and areas of newly planted hazel, provides an ideal home for dormice. While much of the area is open to the public, quieter zones support natural regeneration – offering the sheltered, diverse habitat dormice need to thrive.
Preparing for the dormice’s arrival
By late May, release cages and nest boxes had arrived, ready for installation. Under the guidance of Ian White, PTES’ Dormouse Officer, Bradgate Park rangers and volunteers got to work. The rangers surveyed the site, selecting the best locations for cages. Volunteers then installed the cages and put up over 100 nest boxes in the hazel coppice, ensuring we are able to track the success of the release by finding dormice in future. Navigating the dense woodland proved trickier than expected, so GPS coordinates were marked on maps to ensure precise placements.
The big day
Twelve days later, the long-anticipated release day arrived. Partners from PTES, Bradgate Park Trust, Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust, Leicestershire & Rutland Mammal Group, Nottingham Dormice Group, the National Forest, Paignton Zoo, Zoological Society of London (ZSL), and Twycross Zoo gathered for the event. National media, including BBC, ITV, and Sky News, covered the momentous occasion.
While journalists conducted interviews, volunteers and rangers meticulously prepared the release cages. Leafy hazel branches were placed inside to create climbing structures, and feeding tubes were filled with a carefully balanced mix of fruit, vegetables, and specialist dormouse food. Water bottles were topped up. As preparations concluded, Ian captivated the volunteers with a talk about the life of a dormouse, many of whom were seeing the species up close for the first time.
The final, most delicate task was placing the dormice into their cages. The 21 dormice, provided by the Common Dormouse Captive Breeders Group, had undergone microchipping and health checks at partner zoos. Each pair was gently settled into pre-assigned nest boxes within the release cages by licensed dormouse handlers, assisted by volunteers.
Soft release: a gradual return to the wild
The “soft release” had begun. This period offers a chance for the dormice to gradually acclimatise to their new surroundings, giving them the best chance of survival. Over the next ten days, volunteers visited each cage daily to monitor the animals’ wellbeing. Though sightings were rare (dormice are nocturnal) signs of their presence were found in the feeding tubes, cleverly made from repurposed lemonade bottles. Occasionally, dormice were even found nesting inside the tubes, one created a leafy “bed and breakfast” setup!
Volunteers recorded whether any food had been consumed and ensured fresh supplies were always available, taking care to avoid disturbing any sleepy residents.
Opening the doors to the wild
Vets from ZSL and Twycross Zoo, with help from licensed handlers, returned to the wood ten days later to conduct final health checks. Encouragingly, many dormouse pairs were found sharing nest boxes, a positive sign of bonding. Though the animals had lost a small amount of weight, it was within expected and healthy limits. With clean bills of health, the cages were opened, allowing the dormice to explore their new woodland home when they were ready.
The final stages of the soft release continued over the following three months, with feeding and watering visits gradually reduced. The dormice began foraging independently, becoming less reliant on supplementary food. Volunteers also began regular inspections of the surrounding nest boxes, hoping to discover signs of breeding and the next generation of Bradgate Park dormice.
Volunteer reflections
Hazel Edwards: “I’ve been involved in voluntary projects to help animals overseas before, so I jumped at the chance to help bring a much-loved native species back to my county. Being part of the reintroduction day – from preparing the soft release cages by filling them with foliage, food and water, to helping carefully place the nest boxes containing tiny dormice into them – was a real privilege. It’s been wonderful to help monitor the dormice as they settle into their new home, too.”
Gwen Ward: “I’ve volunteered for Bradgate Park Trust for many years, and when there was talk of a secret species reintroduction, we were all intrigued and eager to help! I’d never seen a hazel dormouse before, so seeing one up close was a joy – they really are as endearing in real life as they are in photos. I’m grateful to have been involved and knowing that dormice are now making a comeback in Leicestershire is very special.”
Looking ahead
This project is an exciting step forward for dormouse conservation. Thanks to the dedication of everyone involved, hazel dormice now have a new foothold in Leicestershire.
About the Bradgate Park Trust and Swithland Wood
Bradgate Park was first enclosed as a deer park around 800 years ago. It provides 830 acres of publicly accessible countryside close to Leicester City Centre.
It offers a wild and rugged landscape with dramatic rocky outcrops and gnarled old oak trees, many of which are well over 500 years old. The landscape offers some of the finest views and is rich in change throughout the seasons.
Bradgate Park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its important ecology, and has Grade II listed status for its historic parkland.
Swithland Wood was acquired in 1931 from the Rotary Club of Leicester. The Rotary Club had rescued the ancient woodland from being felled by a local timber merchant who had been harvesting much of the timber. It’s now a part of the Bradgate National Nature Reserve and a SSSI, and home to a new population of hazel dormice.
Special thanks to Bradgate Park Trust volunteer, Robb Doyle, for contributing greatly to this article. Photography by Karen Fox, Jim Graham and Robb Doyle.
July 28th, 2025