![]() The hazel, or common, dormouse is a small member of the dormouse family, with adults reaching a body length of six to nine centimetres and a tail that is usually around six centimetres long. They are more robust and generally last a number of years before replacement is required. Nest boxes are best suited to long-term monitoring, particularly within woodland sites. Nest tubes are used where hazel is absent as Dormice use the tubes for shelter and sometimes breeding, and they can be easily checked for occupants.ĭeploying a minimum of fifty tubes per site is considered an adequate sample size to robustly determine if dormice are present or likely absent. Searching for gnawed hazel nuts is the most efficient method of assessing dormouse presence, This is generally not recommended to demonstrate likely absence in relation to any development site. Different survey methods must be carried out at specific times: nest tubes and nest boxes can be used between March and November, whilst nut searches can be carried out all year (where hazel is present) to confirm presence only.Īll of our dormice surveys follow guidance within The Dormouse Conservation Handbook. Survey methodology for dormice reflects the life-cycle of this species and usually requires the installation of artificial nest boxes or tubes in woodland or hedgerows, which are checked on a monthly basis by an appropriately licensed ecologist. Rebecca is an experienced coppice worker based in Cumbria.Dormice are legally protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (the Habitats Regulations), as well as the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (Section 41) and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. She also presents a series of useful recommendations for improving hazel quality. Rebecca Oaks’ dissertation explores the relationship between hazel stool density and the quality of the yield. Stool Density as a Factor in the Quality of Hazel Coppice by Rebecca Oaks Ted edited and part wrote the ‘ Crafts in the English Countryside’ Report' The Current Market for Coppice Products - The latest report from Professor Ted Collins, from Reading University, on the current state of the market for coppice products. There is plenty of derelict coppice that needs rejuvenating.Ī Brief History of Coppicing by Edward Mills The market for coppice products is still small, but a growing number of people are recognising the value of this traditional form of woodland management. The whole ecosystem blossoms as a result. Dormice, nightingale and pearl-bordered fritillary for example all thrive amidst the coppice, and the extra light reaching the forest floor encourages a splendid array of flora inlcuding wood anemone, dog-violet, herb-paris, primrose, and bluebells. There will always be areas (or coupes) of coppice at different stages to provide habitat for a range of wildlife. One of the added benefits of coppicing within a woodland is that it promotes biodiversity. Oak, ash and beech, which all produce high-value logs once grown to maturity, can be coppiced, but tend not to be managed in the same quantities as hazel and chestnut. Hazel and chestnut are prized for coppicing because their timber is durable but isn’t highly valued in larger dimensions. Logs for firewood and green woodworking may be sourced from standard trees or from restoring neglected coppice. By cutting all the shoots from a stool together you produce roundwood for different purposes: long thin sticks for beanpoles and straight ones hurdles, thicker stakes for hedgelaying. The principle of coppicing is that you harvest shoots from the stump, or stool, of a cut-down tree. Coppicing, however, sees a remarkably quick return on investment, and is as traditional as could be. Trees grow slowly, and in the fast modern world don’t produce the quick results many people have come to expect. Apprenticeship and Internship Opportunities.
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