A draw for dormice Some wildlife is particularly precious, and there are certain‘ umbrella species’ that indicate a good level of biodiversity and a habitat free from too much disturbance or animal predation. One of these is the beloved dormouse. These small creatures are fully protected by law and termed a Biodiversity Action Plan species( BAP). They have suffered an intense decline of up to 70 % over the last 25 years. This is thought to be due to inappropriate land management, mechanical hedge cutting practices, chemical sprays and loss of connectivity within their habitat. But, be warned, you need to have a licence to disturb or handle these rodents, so keep a good distance away. Improvement and protection of dormice habitats help to create more diverse ecosystems, which benefit many different types of wildlife. In February, dormice should be hibernating.
Can you help them within your own garden? It depends on where you live and the appropriateness of your setting. Dormice should be located away from predators, such as the family cat! They need to have direct access to appropriate wildlife corridors. This enables them to forage for food throughout different seasons. They fare best in good hedges, thickets and shrubs, going up into tree canopies to find flowers, insects, fruit and nuts at different times of year.
Taken by Matt Binstead, British Wildlife Centre, Surrey: www. britishwildlifecentre. co. uk
Helping hedgehogs Hedgehogs also need protection from household pets, particularly dogs. The best things you can provide for these prickly characters are spaces under or through fences, which can act as‘ hedgehog highways’, allowing them to travel between gardens. Shelter and water are important too. A log pile is valuable for food and protection, as these creatures eat invertebrates as well as worms and fruit.
Like dormice, hedgehogs make nests for hibernation, using twigs, leaves and plant matter. While dormice often favour the base of hedges, hedgehogs like log piles, compost heaps, dark places under sheds and dense bushes.
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