Nestled between Somerset, Wiltshire, and Dorset is the Forest of Selwood—a place rich in history, biodiversity, and community spirit. Dr. Sarah Hobbs, one of our senior biodiversity consultants, has been involved with conservation in the Forest of Selwood for almost 12 years, ultimately leading to the creation of the first National Dormouse Monitoring (NDMP) site of its type. In this post, Sarah shares how working in partnership with the Forest of Selwood has helped locals to better understand and protect the vulnerable dormouse.
The Forest of Selwood charity was founded by residents who are passionate about restoring and protecting this ancient landscape. It works in partnership with a variety of local and national organisations to undertake important projects to protect wildlife, restore habitats, and engage communities in conservation efforts. Every project, whether it’s supporting the migration of glass eels or parkland and meadow restoration, plays an important role in safeguarding the environment for future generations.
Twelve years ago, I took a job with Somerset Wildlife Trust and helped setup a Living Landscape programme in the Forest of Selwood area. After moving on, I continued as a volunteer with the Forest of Selwood, setting up a dormouse survey along riparian habitat across two farms. The survey was eventually registered as the first National Dormouse Monitoring Programme (NDMP) site of its type. Since then, the dormouse project has become one of the charity’s flagship initiatives.
Dormouse Conservation and Community
Current research shows that dormice thrive in large, interconnected habitats. However, the role of riparian (riverbank) areas is not well understood, despite these habitats providing a potentially important network throughout many landscapes, including the Forest of Selwood.
The dormouse project seeks to explore the importance of these habitats and create a network of support for dormice conservation while embedding and increasing understanding among residents and communities.
The project recently received two grants to support its delivery. This included a seed corn fund grant from Natural England (Sept 2023-March 2024) and a Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) grant from Defra for Protected Landscapes (July 2024-February 2025).
With this funding, we’ve been able to:
- install 200 dormouse boxes in riparian habitats with plans to install 50 more by winter 2025. These safe nesting spaces are essential for monitoring and supporting dormouse populations.
- develop maps of existing dormouse habitats and records to identify areas needing further surveys and restoration. This baseline data will guide future conservation efforts.
- raise awareness of dormouse conservation by hosting two talks for 75 residents with two more in the pipeline. Through these talks, we’ve been able to highlight the ecology of dormouse and the importance of protecting them.
- hold two workshops on dormouse survey techniques to empower volunteers to get involved in hands-on conservation work. We have also established a dormouse resource library to support the community in conducting their own surveys using nut hunts, footprint tunnels, and nest tubes.
- form a dormouse working group bringing together volunteers to support ongoing activities. We’ve also connected with research institutions and conservation organisations to explore options for linking our project with research programmes.
These early steps are just the beginning, and the project is making strides, however there’s so much more to do! I feel so lucky to have this remarkable landscape on my doorstep and I’ve been thrilled to be part of the project. Anyone who has ever found a dormouse on a survey needs no further explanation as to why I’m passionate about studying and conserving this wonderful species.
The Forest of Selwood is a truly beautiful area of the country, rich in biodiversity and ripe with opportunities for learning, sharing and developing new ideas and experiencing nature. I hope to continue playing a role in its conservation for generations to come.
