Rare dormice reintroduced

RARE hazel dormice have been released into a Warwickshire woodland in an effort to stem the decline of the charismatic species.

Some 19 breeding pairs have been reintroduced to an undisclosed woodland near Leamington Spa by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Numbers have declined steeply in recent years, due to loss of woodland and hedgerows. A lack of coppicing in woods means the dormice have lost preferred habitat of young tree growth and bushes.

The species has become extinct from 17 English counties since the end of the 19th century.

The re-introduction is part of a scheme by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, and is backed by £1 million funding over the next four years from the Heritage Lottery Fund, to restore ancient woodland and historic hedgerows.