Dormice population thrives at National Trust site

Dormice are currently thriving at a National Trust location, with conservationists hoping the animals will soon reach the necessary weight to start hibernation. These small mammals, which usually weigh between 20g and 40g, need to prepare for the cold season ahead.

Fi Hailstone, a senior ranger at the Killerton estate, explained that weather patterns significantly impact the creatures. "When we have warmer weather, it wakes them up and when we have wet springs, that affects their ability to forage when they do wake up," Hailstone noted.

To support the species, the trust is focusing on maintaining a robust ecosystem that offers ample food and protection. "So having a resilient ecosystem with lots of shelter for them, lots of scrub, lots of things for them to eat [is important]," she added.

The ranger also highlighted the importance of bramble for the survival of the dormice. "They love bramble, and I know that bramble has a bit of a bad reputation with a lot of gardeners," Hailstone said. "But bramble is the life source, really. It has flowers in the spring, it has berries on it. It's also protective in terms of cover from other predators, so it's a really great place for them to nest."