Saturday 26 May 2012
Headlines
Did you find this story interesting? (0) (0)
08/10/2009 12:48:00
Help wildlife charity save rare dormice by hunting for nuts
The People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), together with Natural England, officially launches the third Great Nut Hunt today, a public survey to help save endangered hazel dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius). The conservation charity is calling on the public to search their local woodlands for tell-tale signs of gnawed hazel nuts to help determine the distribution status of this rare mammal. To encourage would-be ’nutters’ to take part in the survey, PTES is hiding 21 specially-commissioned hazel nuts - 20 solid silver nuts and a single gold-plated nut - across counties in England and Wales to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme (NDMP).
Jill Nelson, Chief Executive PTES said: "Once widespread in the UK, the dormouse is now an endangered species and vulnerable to extinction. Nationally they have disappeared from more than half of their historic range due to the loss and fragmentation of their habitat, particularly hedgerows, as well as their sensitivity to climate change. In addition to being so rare, the small dormouse is an elusive, nocturnal, arboreal, hibernating mammal, making it a difficult creature to spot."
Dr Pat Morris, Chief Nutter and dormouse expert explains: "The best indicator of a dormouse’s presence is opened hazel (Corylus avellana) nut shells on the woodland floor. Dormice open these nuts by making a neat round hole on one side, leaving characteristic toothmarks around the edge of the hole and providing a reliable method for identification. We can make use of these nibbled nuts to gather data about the presence or absence of dormice and improve knowledge about the distribution of the species as well as the general health of our woodlands and hedgerows." Dr Morris is dubbed the Chief Nutter because he will oversee the herculean task of identifying the tens of thousands of hazel nuts PTES hopes will be sent in by the public.
Poul Christensen, Acting Chair of Natural England, said: "The dormouse is one of our best-loved mammals, but it has faced real difficulties in recent years as its favoured woodland habitats have steadily disappeared or fallen into neglect. The Great Nut Hunt is the ideal way for people of all ages to have fun discovering more about dormice and how they live, but it can also really make a difference to dormouse conservation. By helping us build up a picture of where and how well dormice are surviving we can take steps to ensure their long term survival".
Nutty numbers
1 The single gold-plated hazel nut being hidden in England or Wales by PTES
16 The number of successful reintroductions of dormice across 12 English counties over the last 16 years
20 The number of solid silver hazel nuts being hidden across England and Wales by PTES
21 The number of years the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme has been assessing the conservation status of dormice populations in Great Britain
39% The decline in dormouse numbers between 1992 (the first year there were sufficient records to begin population analysis) and 2008
60 The number of new dormouse sites discovered by volunteers during the 2001 Great Nut Hunt survey
500 The number of previously unknown woodlands that had dormouse present across England and Wales that were discovered through the first two nut hunts
800 The total number of known dormouse sites nationwide
13,171 The number of nuts submitted to PTES for verification in the 1993 Great Nut Hunt survey
50,000 The number of nuts checked by the Chief Nutter to identify which animals opened them in the 2001 Great Nut Hunt survey
250,000 The number of found nuts PTES hopes to exceed in the third Great Nut Hunt
To take part in the Great Nut Hunt and receive your free survey pack, call 020 7498 4533 or visit http://www.greatnuthunt.co.uk . Survey packs contain more information about the silver and golden nut prizes, species information about the hazel dormouse, a recording form and guides on how to identify hazel tress and nibbled nuts.
 | Hazel dormouse Credit,Kate Merry |
 | Hazel dormouse Photo credit Pat Morris |
Jill Nelson, Chief Executive PTES said: "Once widespread in the UK, the dormouse is now an endangered species and vulnerable to extinction. Nationally they have disappeared from more than half of their historic range due to the loss and fragmentation of their habitat, particularly hedgerows, as well as their sensitivity to climate change. In addition to being so rare, the small dormouse is an elusive, nocturnal, arboreal, hibernating mammal, making it a difficult creature to spot."
Dr Pat Morris, Chief Nutter and dormouse expert explains: "The best indicator of a dormouse’s presence is opened hazel (Corylus avellana) nut shells on the woodland floor. Dormice open these nuts by making a neat round hole on one side, leaving characteristic toothmarks around the edge of the hole and providing a reliable method for identification. We can make use of these nibbled nuts to gather data about the presence or absence of dormice and improve knowledge about the distribution of the species as well as the general health of our woodlands and hedgerows." Dr Morris is dubbed the Chief Nutter because he will oversee the herculean task of identifying the tens of thousands of hazel nuts PTES hopes will be sent in by the public.
Poul Christensen, Acting Chair of Natural England, said: "The dormouse is one of our best-loved mammals, but it has faced real difficulties in recent years as its favoured woodland habitats have steadily disappeared or fallen into neglect. The Great Nut Hunt is the ideal way for people of all ages to have fun discovering more about dormice and how they live, but it can also really make a difference to dormouse conservation. By helping us build up a picture of where and how well dormice are surviving we can take steps to ensure their long term survival".
Nutty numbers
1 The single gold-plated hazel nut being hidden in England or Wales by PTES
16 The number of successful reintroductions of dormice across 12 English counties over the last 16 years
20 The number of solid silver hazel nuts being hidden across England and Wales by PTES
21 The number of years the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme has been assessing the conservation status of dormice populations in Great Britain
39% The decline in dormouse numbers between 1992 (the first year there were sufficient records to begin population analysis) and 2008
60 The number of new dormouse sites discovered by volunteers during the 2001 Great Nut Hunt survey
500 The number of previously unknown woodlands that had dormouse present across England and Wales that were discovered through the first two nut hunts
800 The total number of known dormouse sites nationwide
13,171 The number of nuts submitted to PTES for verification in the 1993 Great Nut Hunt survey
50,000 The number of nuts checked by the Chief Nutter to identify which animals opened them in the 2001 Great Nut Hunt survey
250,000 The number of found nuts PTES hopes to exceed in the third Great Nut Hunt
To take part in the Great Nut Hunt and receive your free survey pack, call 020 7498 4533 or visit http://www.greatnuthunt.co.uk . Survey packs contain more information about the silver and golden nut prizes, species information about the hazel dormouse, a recording form and guides on how to identify hazel tress and nibbled nuts.
No Comments
Nobody has posted any comments on this story.
|
Farming items for Sale
|
Case IH MX310 - Norwich
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
John Deere - 7930 Auto-Quad, TLS - Ballyclare
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
Massey Ferguson 5455 powershuttle - Tiverton(GBP 28200)
New Holland TS135A - Thame
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
Ford 6610 - Kirton Lindsey
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
Related News
Wildlife charity encourages joined up thinking for dormice - 19 Aug 2008The wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species has launched a new competition for farmers and landowners to reward active conservation...
Wildlife charity celebrates farmers’ conservation efforts - 23 Jul 2009Six UK farmers shortlisted in competition to save England’s ancient hedgerows and woodlands The wildlife charity People’s Trust f...
Major funding bid steps up campaign to save rare black grouse in North Pennines - 02 May 2006Picture caption: Phil Warren (right) from the Black Grouse Recovery Project and Lindsay Waddell (left) from the Raby Estate, enjoying the sight of th...
Farm wildlife funding could be used to save bees - 28 Dec 2010Increased Government funding to boost wildlife offers farmers and other landowners a fantastic opportunity to help declining pollinators while benefit...
Rare breeds help improve meadow - 15 Feb 2011Gateshead Council is using rare breed animals to help restore a wildflower meadow to its former glory and encourage the return of wildlife. This wi...
Hampshire cattle help chalk stream wildlife - 21 Sep 2005Hampshire livestock are helping conserve the wildlife of our rare chalk streams by learning to pump their own drinking water from the river. This ...
Land Registry helps Lord Crewe's Charity secure future - other landowners urged to follow suit - 02 Mar 2007The legacy of 18th century nobleman and leading clergyman, Lord Crewe, is to be safeguarded for future generations following help from Land Registry. ...
Renewed commitment to wildlife will help poorer communities worldwide - 30 Jun 2008Wildlife projects across the globe are set to benefit from a commitment to funding for the next three years, Wildlife Minister Joan Ruddock announced ...
Sweeping hedges helps protect wildlife - 18 Jun 2010From September 2010, Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) is asking people all over England to ’sweep’ the nation’s hedges so that the condi...
Agrovista boosts funds for Help the Heroes charity - 15 Dec 2011Agrovista UK Ltd, the leading agronomy specialist, crop protection, arable and horticultural product distributor has boosted the funds for Help for He...
