Lost Woods training leads to remarkable discovery: Hazel Dormice found in Lindfield after near 20-year absence

A dedicated team of local volunteers has made a ‘remarkable’ discovery, confirming the presence of a new Hazel Dormouse population in Lindfield, West Sussex.

The Friends of Eastern Road Nature Reserve were trained by the Lost Woods team to survey for the tiny mammals back in July, and after months of careful monitoring, the group have found evidence of Hazel Dormice.

According to the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, the native British population of Hazel Dormice has declined by a staggering 70% since 2000.

The surprising discovery

The group were trained in how to set up and monitor dormouse footprint tunnels - simple wooden boxes lined with charcoal and oil ink pads - which volunters hung across trees and hedgerows around the reserve.

After many weeks of patient monitoring, the volunteers found three tunnels containing the telltale 'cheese triangle' shaped paw prints that could only belong to a Hazel Dormouse. The last recorded evidence of dormice at Eastern Road Nature Reserve was almost two decades ago, back in 2007.

Michael Blencowe - Lost Woods Senior Community Development Worker - who trained the volunteers, described the moment of discovery: “I couldn’t believe they found them, it was remarkable. When we started training local groups, I thought the chance of finding any was very, very low; populations have been decimated due to habitat loss and climate change. This just shows why it’s vital that local communities know how to set up surveys. Now, we can work with ecologists to protect the dormice at this site and encourage this population’s recovery.”

Community-led conservation in action

Alex Le Seelleur, Chair of the Friends of Eastern Road Nature Reserve who set up the survey, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have found Hazel Dormice in our nature reserve. The decline in dormice populations over the past two decades is a huge cause for concern, so to know they are still here is incredibly exciting - it shows just how important these pockets of habitat are.

“We wouldn’t have been able to do this survey without the support of the Lost Woods Project, and we’d encourage anyone interested in protecting their local wildlife to get in touch with them.

“We’d also encourage landowners to contact their local conservation groups if they’d like help with surveying, as they often have the resources and enthusiasm to take them on. In the end it’s all about healthy, connected habitat - the more we collaborate, the better chance dormice and other wildlife have to thrive.”

An uncertain future for an iconic species

The Hazel Dormouse was classified in the first IUCN-approved British Mammal Red List in 2020 as a ‘vulnerable’ species in Britain, but its future is precarious.

The protected species has been completely lost from 20 English counties since the Victorian era, leading conservationists to argue it should be reclassified as 'endangered’ in the UK.

Dormouse decline is primarily driven by habitat loss and the fragmentation of woodlands and hedgerows, a reduction in traditional woodland management practices like coppicing, and the negative impacts of climate change on their hibernation and breeding cycles.

The Friends of Eastern Road Nature Reserve volunteers will continue their work with the Lost Woods project to survey the reserve and will receive expert advice on maintaining and creating vital Hazel Dormouse habitat.

The Lost Woods team is optimistic that this is just the beginning. Other trained volunteers are undertaking ‘nibbled nut’ surveys across the Low Weald this autumn, searching woodland floors for the distinctive chewing pattern uniquely left by Hazel Dormice.

Stuart McLeod, Director of England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “This exciting discovery is a testament to the power of community-led conservation and the importance of restoring and reconnecting our natural habitats. Thanks to National Lottery players, the Lost Woods project is empowering local people to protect and revive ancient woodlands across Sussex. Finding Hazel Dormice after nearly two decades is a remarkable achievement and we’re proud to support the volunteers and partners making a real difference for wildlife and future generations.”

Join in conservation efforts

If you'd like to join a wildlife survey training session or get involved in active conservation volunteering, email lostwoodsteam@ruralsussex.org.uk. To find out more about the Friends of Eastern Road Nature Reserve, including how to volunteer, visit www.easternroadnaturereserve.org.uk.