Regular monitoring carried out at key dormouse site in North Wales

Volunteers carrying out spring monitoring at a key North Wales woodland were encouraged to find several dormice present as they emerged from winter hibernation.

Our officers, working alongside Enfys Ecology and dedicated volunteers, have completed their latest dormouse monitoring survey at Coed y Fron Wyllt woodland near Bontuchel, Ruthin.

The team checked more than 200 nesting boxes across the site as part of a long-running survey programme, carried out four times a year in May, June, September and October. During the most recent visit, six adult dormice were recorded. At this time of year, many of the boxes are typically occupied by small birds, making any dormouse sightings particularly encouraging.

Dormouse populations have been monitored at Coed y Fron Wyllt for over 20 years, with the site widely recognised as a flagship location for dormouse conservation in Wales. The work forms part of ongoing efforts to better understand and protect this rare and vulnerable species, building on recent partnership work highlighted by NRW to safeguard dormice across North Wales.

Glenn Williams, Senior Land Management Officer for NRW, said:

“Coed y Fron Wyllt remains an incredibly important site for dormice, and it’s reassuring to see them continuing to use the woodland and even moving into newly installed boxes so quickly.

“This long-term monitoring work is vital for understanding how these populations are faring, and it also gives our staff and volunteers valuable hands-on experience. It’s a great example of partnership working making a real difference for one of our most threatened native mammals.”

Over last winter, more than 30 nesting boxes were replaced during an annual maintenance day. Encouragingly, dormice were already found using some of these new boxes during the latest survey.

Hazel dormice are critically endangered in the UK, with numbers dropping by 70% between 2000 and 2022, according to the State of Britain’s Dormice report. They are a protected species under European law, making conservation work vital for their survival.