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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
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- - 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
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- - 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
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- - 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
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- - 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
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- - 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.

Home // Research grants // Our UK mammal projects // Using genetics to help our dormice

Using genetics to help our dormice

Combining genetic studies with landscape features to help our hazel dormouse thrive.

Funding for this project has now finished

The problem

The hazel dormouse is our only native dormouse. Their name comes from the hazelnuts they nibble and their reputation for loving to sleep.

Hazel dormice numbers have plummeted since Victorian times and while our long term research suggests the rate at which they are disappearing is slowing, the fact is they are still on the decline. Many of the populations have become isolated in pockets of good woodland habitat but with no routes in or out such as healthy hedgerows connecting to a neighbouring woodland. This could potentially reduce the genetic diversity leaving the dormice vulnerable to disease, inbreeding and an inability to adapt to environmental changes.

The solution

PTES is funding Manchester Metropolitan University to research the impact of isolation on the genetic diversity of dormouse populations across England and Wales. The study will compare the genetic variation within a population with the level of habitat connectivity i.e. landscape features which facilitate dormouse movement such as hedgerows and those which inhibit it including roads and railways. The results will inform future nationwide conservation strategies, for example, quantifying minimum requirements to sustain a healthy dormouse population, identifying priority areas where habitat connectivity needs to be improved or selecting woodlands which may benefit from the introduction of captive bred populations.

Thank you to all our donors who helped us fund this work. You can help us support more projects like this with a donation today:

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