Following the county’s first and only dormouse reintroduction in 2001, this release boosts genetic diversity for this isolated population
This week, 10 rare hazel dormice have been reintroduced into a Bedfordshire woodland to bolster the county’s only existing population. The release will create a bigger and more genetically diverse population of hazel dormice in the county, and is part of ongoing conservation efforts to save this charismatic species from extinction in the UK.
The reintroduction, led by wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), builds on a previous release which took place in 2001 in the same woodland cared for by Forestry England. Over the past 23 years the population of dormice has thrived, with their range extending beyond the original release site. Now, a further 10 of the tiny golden-coated animals will be added to the existing population.
Ian White, Dormouse & Training Officer at People’s Trust for Endangered Species says: “Britain’s hazel dormice population has declined by an astounding 70% since 2000 and they’ve been lost from 20 English counties over the past century. Our annual reintroductions, alongside habitat management, landscape projects and monitoring, are paramount to the species’ long-term survival. To date we’ve released 1,112 dormice into 25 different woodlands in 13 counties – including six English counties where they had previously been lost. It’s extremely encouraging that descendants of Bedfordshire’s original population are still flourishing, and by introducing more dormice this summer we hope that they go from strength-to-strength, which is much-needed good news for a species on the brink.”
Managed by PTES since 2000, the annual dormouse reintroductions are part of Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme and the release day is the culmination of months of hard work by several partner organisations, including the Common Dormouse Captive Breeders Group (including Wildwood Trust), Paignton Zoo and ZSL. This year, the dormice have been released into a woodland managed by Forestry England and supported by the Greensand Trust. Local volunteers from the Bedfordshire Mammal Group – some who have monitored the population since the 2001 release – will help the new dormice settle into their new home. They will also continue long-term monitoring to ensure the population thrives.
Neal Armour-Chelu, District Ecologist from Forestry England explained: “Forestry England has a great track record in biodiversity conservation as part of our nature remit including reintroducing rare wildlife. Many of the nation’s forests have dormice in and our expert foresters always take great care managing the woodlands where they live because they are rare and protected. It is great to know that the single Bedfordshire dormouse population is thriving, thanks to the continued work of the PTES and two decades of monitoring carried by the Bedfordshire Mammal Group. Dormice love coppice and we are looking to continue this special type of woodland management for the benefit of the woodland’s special wildlife.”
The dormice released are provided by the Common Dormouse Captive Breeders Group, which includes Wildwood Trust. Once they are ready to be released into the wild, they undergo an eight-week quarantine where each dormouse receives a full nose-to-tail health check by wildlife vets at Paignton Zoo and ZSL’s Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance (DRAHS) team. This ensures that only fit and healthy dormice are released into the wild and that there’s no risk of them transferring diseases or non-native parasites to either the existing dormouse population or other local wildlife.
After the dormice get the all-clear they’re carefully transported to their new woodland home. This June, a second release is also taking place in the Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape (bordering Lancashire and Cumbria), where another 10 dormice are being released into a woodland owned by Natural England. Like the release in Bedfordshire, this builds on a previous reintroduction which took place in 2021 and aims to strengthen the existing population.
Katherine Walsh, Senior Environmental Specialist, Mammals, at Natural England said: “The hazel dormouse is one of Britain’s most iconic native species, which has sadly also become one of our most endangered.
“The success of Bedfordshire’s dormouse population shows that by working together we can bring our native species back from the brink. This latest release will accelerate the recovery of this species by creating a genetically diverse population that in-turn supports a wider web of biodiversity.”
Once the dormice are released, they’re left to acclimatise to their new surroundings from the safety of their nest boxes, which are gently placed within larger mesh cages filled with foliage, buds, berries, nuts and water. Local volunteers carry out daily checks on the tiny new residents and top up their food and water. After 10 days a final health-check from ZSL’s DRAHS team takes place, and if successful the cage doors are opened to allow the dormice to explore the wider woodland. In time they will start to breed and disperse into new woodland and hedge areas, and the mesh cages will be removed.
To find out more about PTES’ dormouse conservation work, visit www.ptes.org/dormice.
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A Dropbox link to high-res images and footage from the reintroduction will be available for media use. For this link, or to arrange interviews with experts, please contact Adela Cragg:
T: 07532 685 614
Notes to Editors
Available for interview
- Ian White, Dormouse & Training Officer – People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES)
- Neil Bemment, Chair – Common Dormouse Captive Breeders Group (CDCBG)
- Neal Armour-Chelu, District Ecologist – Forestry England
- Katherine Walsh, Senior Environmental Specialist, Mammals – Natural England
- Ryan Page, Practice Manager – Paignton Zoo
- Hazel Ryan, Senior Conservation Officer – Wildwood Trust
- Clare McNamee, Wildlife Veterinarian – ZSL’s Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance Team (DRAHS)
About People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES)
- PTES, a UK conservation charity created in 1977, is ensuring a future for endangered species throughout the world. We protect some of our most threatened wildlife species and habitats, and provide practical conservation support through research, grant-aid, educational programmes, wildlife surveys, publications and public events.
- PTES’ current priority species and habitats include hazel dormice, hedgehogs, water voles, noble chafers, stag beetles, traditional orchards, native woodlands, wood pasture and parkland and hedgerows.
- PTES has Species Champions for two of its priority species: for hedgehogs The Rt Hon Chris Grayling, MP for Epsom & Ewell and for water voles The Rt Hon Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds Central and Chair of the Brexit Select Committee.
- Visit www.ptes.org and follow PTES on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube & LinkedIn.
About the Common (Hazel) Dormouse Captive Breeders Group
- Formed in the early 1990’s by a group of like-minded mammal conservationists. The first releases were carried out in 1993 under the auspices of the Natural England Species Recovery Programme for the Hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius. Neil Bemment has been Chairman with responsibility for coordinating the activities of the CDCBG since 2000, while the studbook is currently maintained by Suzanne Kynaston, with assistance from Hazel Ryan, at the Wildwood Trust, Kent.
About Forestry England
- Forestry England manages and cares for the nation’s 1,500 woods and forests, with over 291 million visits in 2022/23. As England’s largest land manager, we shape landscapes and enhance forests for people to enjoy, wildlife to flourish and businesses to grow. We are continuing the work we have already started to make the nation’s forests resilient to climate change and by 2026 we will:
- create at least 6,000 more hectares where we integrate wilding activities in our productive forests.
- increase the diversity of visitors to the nation’s forests and have one million hours of high-quality volunteer time given to the nation’s forests
- plant at least 2,000 hectares of new, high quality, predominantly broadleaf woodlands
- For more information visit forestryengland.uk. Forestry England is an agency of the Forestry Commission.
About Natural England
- Natural England works with the People’s Trust for Endangered Species to provide an ongoing programme of funding, coordination and monitoring of the dormouse recovery project. Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. They conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.
- www.naturalengland.org.uk.
About Paignton Zoo
- Paignton Zoo, together with Newquay Zoo and three nature reserves, Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve, Primley Park and Clennon Gorge, are all part of the charity Wild Planet Trust.
- Wild Planet Trust co-ordinates wildlife conservation projects both in the UK and overseas, as well as research projects on topics such as animal behaviour, nutrition, enrichment and ecology.
- Wild Planet Trust is helping to halt species decline and acts to protect at-risk animals and plants from the impacts of biodiversity loss. We believe that every species is important, everything is connected and every action matters.
- Both Paignton Zoo and Newquay Zoo are members of the British & Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums (BIAZA). BIAZA is a conservation, education and wildlife charity representing over 100 of the best zoos and aquariums in Britain and Ireland.
- Visit www.paigntonzoo.org.uk and follow Paignton Zoo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
About The Greensand Trust
- The Greensand Trust is an independent environmental charity working with local communities and landowners to conserve and promote the distinctive landscape, wildlife and history of the Greensand Ridge and to improve access, understanding and enjoyment of this fascinating area.
- Find out more at www.greensandtrust.org
About Wildwood Trust
- Wildwood Trust opened in 1999 as a centre of excellence for the conservation of British wildlife, and was established as a registered charity in 2002. Wildwood is Kent’s best British wildlife park. Home to over 200 native animals, past and present and set in 40 acres of beautiful ancient woodland where visitors can see bears, wolves, bison, deer, owls, foxes, red squirrels, wild boar, lynx, wild horses, badgers and beavers plus many more. As one of the leading British wildlife conservation charities, Wildwood Trust is dedicated to saving Britain’s most threatened species. Wildwood Trust has taken part in many ground-breaking conservation programmes to date, which include, saving the water vole, using wild horses to help restore Kent’s most precious nature reserves, bringing the extinct European beaver back to Britain and returning the hazel dormouse & red squirrel to areas where they have been made extinct.
- Visit the website here: https://wildwoodtrust.org/
About ZSL
- Founded in 1826, ZSL is an international conservation charity, driven by science, working to restore wildlife in the UK and around the world; by protecting critical species, restoring ecosystems, helping people and wildlife live together and inspiring support for nature. Through our leading conservation zoos, London and Whipsnade, we bring people closer to nature and use our expertise to protect wildlife today, while inspiring a lifelong love of animals in the conservationists of tomorrow. Visit www.zsl.org for more information.
- ZSL’s Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance (DRAHS) veterinary experts help mitigate the risk from disease during dormice translocations. They ensure that the dormice are fit and healthy for release, and free of non-native parasites, and have the best chance of survival in their new forest home.
Header image by Sally Wadsworth