One of the dormice boxes in situ on Doctor’s Meadow.
After commissioning the Kent Wildlife Trust to undertake a survey of Southborough Society’s land adjoining the Common, Doctor’s Meadow, they suggested that endangered Hazel Dormice could inhabit the site and that this should be encouraged.
Britain’s dormice population has declined a huge 51% since 2000 and are now predominantly confined to Southern England and Wales.
So to help these little guys out we initiated a project in collaboration with the 2nd Southborough Brownies to construct nest boxes for the dormice to use in the Spring/Summer. The Brownies created thoughtful poems that were inscribed on the base of the nest boxes (we heard the mice are big poetry fans! ).
A message inscribed on the base of the nest box.
The pandemic put a pause on our activity but we are pleased to inform you all of the boxes are installed and ready for their new house guests! Next year we will be able to survey to see if any dormice have made a home in the boxes. They are mostly completely out of view as they should not be touched or disturbed, but you can see some images here of the boxes on the Meadow.
We’d like to thank Alsford Timber, Tonbridge for donating the materials to support this project and the biggest thank you to the 2nd Southborough Brownies who created the poems and made the boxes. Thank you also to Brown Owl Avril and Tinkerbell Sharon. Finally, thank you to Ian Johnstone at Kent High Weald Partnership for his advice and help installing the boxes.
