Forestry Commission - News - devon dormice star on tonight's the one programme on bbc1

Dormice from the Forestry Commission’s Haldon Forest Park, near Exeter, are the stars of a report by BBC TV presenter Kate Humble, to be broadcast on tonight’s The One – the BBC’s new flagship early evening magazine programme, launched yesterday.

Kate Humble earlier this year co-presented the BBC’s hugely successful wildlife series Springwatch with Bill Oddie. She is pictured here holding one of the dormice discovered during a regular check of one of the 50 nesting boxes installed and monitored by Forestry Commission Ranger Ian Parsons at Haldon Forest Park – this nest contained not only an adult, but her three offspring too.

“A loss of suitable habitat has led to a steep decline in dormouse numbers in Britain,” says Ian, “but the Forestry Commission in the Southwest is trying to play its part in ensuring that one of Britain’s sleepiest and most engaging animals is around for a long time to come. We not only provide nesting boxes for dormice, but also take account of their habitat needs when managing our woodland.”

“The dormouse’s reputation for taking it easy is a well-deserved one,” continued Ian, “as it spends three quarters of its life asleep. In fact the one we discovered in one of our nesting boxes actually feel asleep while Kate Humble was holding it.”

Dormice are nocturnal, and being excellent climbers spend most of their time in the tree canopy, feeding on seeds, nuts, flowers, fruits and insects. They hibernate from October to April, and their favourite habitat is deciduous woodland and hedgerows.

“With a life span of up to five years in the wild, dormice live far longer than other similar sized mammals, and are very distinctive with their orange/yellow fur and bushy tail,” explains Ian, “but you will be very lucky to spot one in the wild.”

In Britain Dormice are protected by law and may not be killed, injured, disturbed in their nests, collected, or trapped except under licence.

For more information, contact:
Carl Smith
Forestry Commission (Peninsula Forest District)
Exeter
Tel: 01392 834249
Email: carl.smith@forestry.gsi.gov.uk