Support the CRT Donate Nature Appeals Hazel dormice appeal update £6,000 target achieved - thank you for all your kind donations The hazel dormouse, one of our most enchanting mammals with its soft golden fur, black eyes and a delicate furry tail, is classified as vulnerable to extinction. Last November, we created an appeal with the aim of raising £6,000 to help us discover dormice populations across our farms and improve their habitats. In the past two decades, dormice numbers have plummeted by 70 per cent, and they are locally extinct in 14 English counties. At Turnastone Court Farm in Herefordshire, where we know dormice are already present, we wanted to create a new wildlife corridor, also known as a shelter belt, connecting two areas of woodland, so they could travel more safely between habitats. However, the CRT Trustees recently took the difficult decision to sell Turnastone Court Farm, where we had intended to carry out some of the work. We understand this may be concerning to those who donated in support of dormouse conservation work on our farms, and we want to explain clearly what this means for the appeal and how we intend to move forward. Our next steps We remain fully committed to this project and to using all donations to deliver meaningful conservation outcomes for hazel dormice. We will carry out dormouse surveys as planned across four of our farms — Babers Farm (Dorset), Bere Marsh Farm (Dorset), Pierrepont Farm (Surrey) and Green Farm (Surrey) — between May and November 2026. A portion of the donated funds will be used to purchase or build the equipment needed for this work, including dormice footprint tunnels and survey equipment. Based on the results of these surveys, if dormice are identified on one or more of these farms, we will spend the money raised making improvements to the existing habitat/s to help them flourish. Options for everyone who has donated We have emailed or written to everyone who kindly donated to this appeal to make them aware of the changes and to offer a refund if they would like one. After analysing all the survey data we will then email or write to all donors again at the end of December with a full update on what we have found and how we would like to use the remaining donations. We want to make sure that all donors are comfortable with how their donation is being used. If they prefer not to continue supporting the appeal under these revised circumstances, we completely understand, and will refund their donation in full. If this is the case for you, please email [email protected] or call our office on 01223 651215, and we will arrange this promptly. Donors can also choose to wait until we write to them again at the end of December with the findings of our dormice surveys, and let us know then if they would like a refund. For everyone who is happy for their donation to continue supporting this work, they do not need to do anything. We will keep them updated as the project progresses. Preparing a dormice footprint tunnel Dormouse footprints in a tunnel Hazel dormouse nest Hazel dormice Q&A What are Hazel dormice? The hazel dormouse is a small, native British rodent with soft golden-brown fur, large black eyes and a furry tail. It is unique among small British mammals and spends the warmer months in trees and shrubs, before hibernating through winter. How do footprint tunnels work? Tunnels are placed 15 to 20 metres apart and checked every two weeks for two consecutive months, during the period of May to November, providing an 82 per cent chance of detecting dormice. They capture footprints as dormice pass through, offering a non-invasive monitoring method that volunteers can check without needing a licence. Where will the tunnels be placed? Babers Farm and Bere Marsh Farm (Dorset), Pierrepont Farm and Green Farm (Surrey). What habitat suits dormice? Dormice are arboreal, so suitable habitats include hazel and broadleaf woodland with connected understorey and touching branches. They need variety in their diet, including blossom in spring, insects in summer, and fruits and nuts in autumn. Dense hedges and well-connected woodland are also vital. Are dormice protected? Hazel dormice are a European Protected Species. They are classed as ‘vulnerable’ to extinction but recent research in 2023 suggested that their conservation status should be revised and updated to ‘endangered’ due to their continued decline. They generally have one litter of four young per year and live at very low densities. Are other dormice species present in the UK? Yes, the UK also has the non-native edible dormouse (Glis glis) in some areas which is an invasive species. It is much larger than a hazel dormouse, about the size of a small squirrel, and is currently located in the south-east of the UK after being introduced at the start on the 20th Century by Walter Rothschild. Manage Cookie Preferences