- Over 40 rare hazel dormice have been released into ancient woodland on the Bradgate Park Trust estate in Leicestershire, as part of national conservation efforts.
- This reintroduction aims to bolster the county's only known dormouse population, which was established by a successful release of 21 dormice in 2025.
- The initiative by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) addresses a dramatic national decline of over 70 per cent in dormouse numbers since 2000, attributed to habitat loss and the destruction of neglect of hedgerows.
- The captive-bred dormice have been given health checks and quarantine before being released into nest boxes within large mesh enclosures to help them acclimatise to the woodland.
- According to PTES, 1,163 dormice have been released into 27 woodlands in 14 British counties since the programme began in 1993.
IN FULL
