Latest news with #BradgatePark
BBC News
a day ago
- Science
- BBC News
Hazel dormice: Rare rodents reintroduced in Leicestershire to boost numbers
Conservationists have released more than twenty rare hazel dormice into a secret woodland location in project is part of national efforts to help the tiny endangered species return from the brink of follows a similar successful reintroduction of the mammals to the National Forest, in neighbouring hope is that these two groups of dormice will one day form part of a wider population spanning the whole area. What have wildlife experts done with the dormice? Experts say that numbers of hazel dormice have fallen by around 70% nationally in the past twenty five once being common across Britain, they have experienced a big drop in numbers for many reasons but particularly because of loss of habitat - places to live such as woods and hedgerows. The way woods and hedgerows are maintained has also impacted their survival as the tiny mice need dense, varied woodlands to hide and to a recent report, the species is thought to now be extinct in 20 English dormice were reintroduced this week to a secret location within the Bradgate Park Trust estate in Leicestershire by a team of experts, including wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES).To help them adapt to their new environment, the animals will be first housed in open enclosures for more than a week, before being fully released into the wild. Ian White from PTES said that the reintroduction could be an important step in starting a new population of explained: "It's a big day for the county, as dormice haven't been seen here for a very long time."We're hopeful that by autumn, the dormice will have settled into the woodland. If we start to see litters later this year, it will mark the beginning of their return," Mr White added.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Dormice reintroduced at Bradgate Park to boost population
More than 20 hazel dormice have been reintroduced to Leicestershire as part of a project to boost the species' declining help them adapt, the animals will be housed in open cages in a secret location within Bradgate Park, near Newton Linford, before being released into the dormouse population has dropped by 70% nationally since 2000, and the species is now extinct in 20 English counties, according to a 2023 White, dormouse and training officer at the People's Trust for Endangered Species, said the reintroduction could provide "vital stepping stones to start a new population of dormice". "We're hopeful that by autumn, the dormice will have settled into the woodland," he added. "If we start to see litters later this year, it will mark the beginning of their return. "It's a big day for the county, as dormice haven't been seen here for a very long time." Volunteers will monitor the dormice daily over a 10-day period, topping up food and water while the animals adjust to their new this time, the dormice will remain in mesh enclosures before being released to forage for they settle in, they are expected to begin breeding and dispersing into surrounding woodland and hedgerows. Volunteer Hazel Edwards, who helped prepare the site, said: "A couple of weeks ago we started setting up large open cages in the woods so the dormice would acclimatise."From today, we'll feed and care for them daily. The cages are filled with fresh hazel twigs, water, and food. "After about 10 days, we'll open the cages, and they'll move into nesting boxes we've placed nearby. Hopefully, those will become their forever homes."Mr White added the reintroduction formed "part of a long-term effort" to bring the species back to said: "It took 100 years for numbers to fall - restoring them will take just as long."
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Rare hazel dormice released to create Leicestershire's only known population
Conservationists have released 20 rare hazel dormice into a secret woodland location in Leicestershire to create the county's only known population. The tiny mammals were reintroduced this week to an undisclosed area of the Bradgate Park Trust estate by wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and its partners. It comes as part of national efforts to help the endangered species come back from the brink of extinction. The native dormouse, immortalised as the sleepy guest at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party in Alice in Wonderland, has suffered declines of 70% nationally since 2000 and has vanished from 20 English counties. Annual dormouse reintroductions began in 1993 and have been managed by PTES since 2000, with 1,142 being released into 26 different woodlands in 13 counties, including six English counties where they had previously been lost. The reintroduction in Leicestershire follows the successful reintroduction of 38 dormice to the National Forest from the National Trust's Calke Abbey in Derbyshire. The conservationists say this secondary reintroduction is a vital step forward for dormouse recovery nationally and regionally. The hope is that these two populations of dormice will one day form part of a wider population spanning the whole forest. Bradgate Park Trust, which is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and part of a national nature reserve, was chosen with the help of local wildlife groups to ensure the woodland is suitable for dormice now and in the future. Ian White, PTES dormouse and training officer, said: 'Despite once being a common part of Britain's woodlands and hedgerows, hazel dormice have experienced a historic and catastrophic decline due to habitat loss, degradation and poor management of woodlands and hedgerows, compounded by a changing climate. 'PTES's reintroductions, alongside habitat management, landscape projects and monitoring, are paramount to their long-term survival.' James Dymond, director of Bradgate Park Trust, said: 'As a small charity, we are proud to be entrusted with the care of these rare and charming creatures. 'This reintroduction is a testament to the past woodland management efforts on the estate, and we are committed to ensuring this special habitat continues to thrive—not only for the dormice, but for a wide range of other rare species that call it home too.' Ben Devine, head of nature recovery at the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, added: 'This release is an exciting first step in helping dormice not only locally, but nationally too. 'Ensuring the right landscape and habitat is in place is key to ensuring continued nature recovery, and we will continue to monitor the dormice to ensure that Leicestershire's only known population thrives and one day expands beyond Bradgate Park estate.' The dormice are bred in captivity and undergo an eight-week quarantine with regular health checks before their release, to ensure only healthy animals are put into the wild. They have been released into their woodland habitat, which has been selected to make sure it meets their needs, in large wire mesh cages with food and water. Local volunteers from Bradgate Park Trust and the Leicestershire and Rutland Mammal Group will regularly check the cages and top up their food and water before the doors are opened after 10 days to allow them to start to explore their new home.
