I started surveying Fontmell Down for dormice in 2020, which is managed by The National Trust and Dorset Wildlife Trust. Fontmell Down is a beautiful chalk downland reserve supporting a rich variety of wildlife within its grassland slopes, scrub and woodland. This diversity of habitat makes it an ideal place to support hazel dormice. Native hazel dormice are a protected species in Britain and are a priority in conservation action as they are rapidly declining due to many factors including a lack of long-term woodland management, fragmentation of hedgerows, woodlands and climate change. I have been surveying hazel dormice under licence for around three years now at various sites and wanted to do more to help this wonderful species at my local nature reserve.

So, in 2020, I began by installing nest tubes around suitable woodland and then started surveying these throughout the year. After continuous checking each month, I found little evidence of dormice except a few chewed nuts. So, I decided to have a go at making some dormouse boxes and installed these in March 2021 in hope that one might take up residency!

Not long after their installation I finally got a positive result in November of that year and discovered a dormouse fast asleep in one of the boxes. Thrilled by this development, I wanted to step up my surveying methods by adding more boxes and setting the site up as part of the National Dormouse Monitoring Program run by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species. The program collects data from volunteer monitors like me to help to provide the insight needed to guide actions in helping to save dormice. So, in 2022, with a mixture of fundraising and a generous donation by The National Trust I managed to purchase 40 more boxes to add to the site.

In March 2022, joined by Dorset Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers, we installed all the boxes ready to start monitoring their progress throughout the year. The following May I carried out my first check of the boxes after installation and was amazed to find three dormice curled up in a ball inside the boxes, so it was clear to see they were starting to move in and enjoying the nest boxes. Through the course of the year each time I checked the boxes I found more and more nests and dormice present, each time carefully handling them collecting valuable data of age, weight, sex and breeding condition.

In late 2022 I finished collecting the final data for the year ready to submit to the PTES, which overall resulted in the boxes occupied by nine dormice and 14 nests! These results couldn’t be more positive for this wonderful site and shows that they are supported well by the already thriving wildlife and habitat. I am looking forward to seeing how the dormice have fared during their winter hibernation ready to start surveying again in the spring 2023.