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Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
- Close
- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
- Close
- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
- Close
- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
- Close
- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

One donation, twice the impact. From the 18th – 25th April your donation to protect ancient woodland will be doubled through the Big Give.

Home // Key species and habitats // Hazel dormice // Protection for hazel dormice // Dormouse training

Dormouse training

The aim of these dormouse training pages is to provide some guidance for people who would like train towards their license and also for those who may be training them.

Dormouse trainees

For anyone wishing to start training for a dormouse licence it is highly recommended that you attend a professional one-day training course on dormouse Ecology and Conservation. The information below is not intended to replace a good training course. These give the trainee both the benefit of the trainer’s experience in the field and often their first sighting of a dormouse. Courses are run by People’s Trust for Endangered Species, the Mammal Society, CIEEM and some independent organisations.

The dormouse training log is your record of experience when training towards your dormouse licence. It has been approved by both Natural England and Natural Resources Wales. Please be aware that some counties and organisations have their own training logs so please check with your mentor the best method of recording your experience.

Once you have a dormouse licence you are able to train others and provide them with a reference when you consider it appropriate. Our Train the Trainers guide may help you provide the level of training required.

Suggested kit list

One nest box hole bung- make sure you only take one into the wood and bring one out again
Perspex slide to cover nest box when checking to allow to see inside if required
Large strong plastic bags to place nest boxes in – available from PTES
Small bags to place dormice in
Scales- Pesola scales weighing up to 50g
Notebook/forms
Pen/pencil
Thin wire for some nest box lids
6 mm bungy to put up nest boxes
Wire cutters
Scraper to clean nest boxes

The National Dormouse Monitoring Programme (NDMP) survey guidelines are reviewed every year; please ensure that you are familiar with the current document.

A set of training videos dealing with all aspects of how to undertake an NDMP check are available here

Further presentations available as pdf’s are also available:

How to check dormouse nest boxes for the NDMP including sexing dormice, weighing dormice and dealing with more than one animal in a box
How to age and sex dormice and the age class recognition for NDMP data entry

Look at the books on the publications page and review some of the papers to get a better understanding of dormouse ecology and the problems facing dormice.

We have been working to save hazel dormice in the UK for over 20 years. Find out about our campaigns and how you can help.

How you can help

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