Excessive stage wildlife corridors are being strung up for hazel dormice in considered one of England’s historic forests
Mini rope bridges are being created for hazel dormice in considered one of England’s historic forests to assist them journey safely. Forestry England was compelled to fell timber within the Forest of Dean resulting from Chalara ash dieback, which fragmented habitats for endangered hazel dormice. Nonetheless, with two 20m-long ladders bridging the hole they’ll journey safely between treetops as soon as extra.
Space ecologist at Forestry England, Kate Wollen advised Optimistic Information: “Dormice don’t like to come back to floor aside from hibernation. They really feel susceptible to predators when on the bottom and whereas these bridges don’t substitute the timber that needed to be felled, they are going to allow dormice to really feel safer as they cross from one a part of the wooden to a different.”
Dormice are a chosen protected species all through Europe and the UK, the place the lack of high quality woodland and hedgerows means populations have dwindled by virtually half within the final three many years. They favour woodlands with mosaic habitats managed historically by means of strategies corresponding to coppicing, a apply in decline throughout the UK, which entails felling timber at their base to create a fan of recent shoots.
The Forest of Dean rope bridges (pictured under) have been put in in woodland close to Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire. Path cameras are being fitted over the summer season to watch the dormice utilizing them.
Climbing the ladder: one of many rope bridges within the Forest of Dean. Picture: Forestry England / Crown copyright
Forestry England neighborhood ranger Leoni Dawson stated the venture wouldn’t have been attainable with out the assistance of volunteers, considered one of whom has been monitoring native dormice populations for 20 years.
Space ecologist at Forestry England, Kate Wollen. Picture: Forestry England / Crown copyright
“We hope the bridges will complement this work and that the dormice will do properly. We’ve by no means tried this earlier than and it’s thrilling to see what’s going to occur,” she stated.
Foremost picture: Sasha Fox Walters
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