High level wildlife corridors are being strung up for hazel dormice in one of England’s ancient forests
Mini rope bridges are being created for hazel dormice in one of England’s ancient forests to help them travel safely. Forestry England was forced to fell trees in the Forest of Dean due to Chalara ash dieback, which fragmented habitats for endangered hazel dormice. However, with two 20m-long ladders bridging the gap they can travel safely between treetops once more.
Area ecologist at Forestry England, Kate Wollen told Positive News: “Dormice do not like to come to ground except for hibernation. They feel vulnerable to predators when on the ground and while these bridges don’t replace the trees that had to be felled, they will enable dormice to feel safer as they cross from one part of the wood to another.”
Dormice are a designated protected species throughout Europe and the UK, where the loss of quality woodland and hedgerows means populations have dwindled by almost half in the last three decades. They favour woodlands with mosaic habitats managed traditionally through methods such as coppicing, a practice in decline across the UK, which involves felling trees at their base to create a fan of new shoots.
The Forest of Dean rope bridges (pictured below) have been installed in woodland near Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire. Trail cameras are being fitted over the summer to monitor the dormice using them.
Climbing the ladder: one of the rope bridges in the Forest of Dean. Image: Forestry England / Crown copyright
Forestry England community ranger Leoni Dawson said the project would not have been possible without the help of volunteers, one of whom has been monitoring local dormice populations for 20 years.
Area ecologist at Forestry England, Kate Wollen. Image: Forestry England / Crown copyright
“We hope the bridges will complement this work and that the dormice will do well. We’ve never tried this before and it is exciting to see what will happen,” she said.
Main image: Sasha Fox Walters
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