Dear All,
The Sussex
Mammal Group is working in partnership with PTES (People's Trust for Endangered
Species) on the third Great Nut Hunt to find out more about where dormice are
across the country.
We are looking for volunteers to join in the
surveys in Sussex. Although dormice are nocturnal, the best way of finding out
if dormice are using a wood or hedge is to look for hazel nut shells that they
have opened to get at the nut inside.
If you would like to be
involved in the Great Nut Hunt your help would be greatly appreciated. To
participate you initially need to register your interest with PTES at: http://www.greatnuthunt.org.uk
and with us (by return email). PTES will send interested volunteers an
information pack and we will supply details of the grid references and names of
woods that need surveying for you to choose from and also let you know about a
Nut Hunt training day.
We ran a Sussex Nut Hunt last autumn/winter
(2008/2009), where we encouraged volunteers to revisit historic sites where
dormice had been recorded in the last Nut Hunt and from ad hoc records. 31 sites
were surveyed with 19 coming back as absent, 2 unknown and 10 present. We'd like
to revisit those woods where no signs were found last winter and some other
woods where we have historic records which haven't yet been
revisited.
I look forward to hearing back from you soon.
Best
wishes,
--
Sam Finn
Sussex Mammal Group
c.o. Sussex
Biodiversity Record Centre
Woods Mill
Henfield
West Sussex BN5
9SD
Sussex Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act. Registered in England, Company No. 698851. Registered Charity No. 207005. VAT Registration No. 191 305969. Registered Office: Woods Mill, Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9SD. Telephone 01273 492630
