Somerset Wildlife Trust with Carillion Rail

Cheddar Woodlands Dormouse Project

This project concentrates on woodland areas in the Cheddar Gorge Special Area of Conservation. Black Rock and Cheddar Wood Reserves both support good populations of the nationally rare dormouse and are part of the England monitoring scheme. To improve the condition of the woodlands for dormice, and many other species, areas of the woodland are in need of rejuvenation.

The team of more than 20 volunteers led by Paul Taylor from Carillion Rail coppiced 1.5 acres of derelict hazel at Black Rock, the felling of 3 acres of failed and poor quality conifer to encourage the adjacent native broadleaf trees and shrubs to grow and erecting 100 nest boxes. Their enthusiasm and hard work enabled a massive quantity of high quality work in only two days.

At Cheddar Wood a further 100 nest boxes were purchased and erected. Two acres of Ash and Lime woodland has been thinned, exceeding the original target of a single acre, to make way for the replanting of deciduous trees native to the area. The production of a revised management plan for Cheddar Wood is underway and awaiting approval by English Nature.

Somerset Wildlife Trust was extremely impressed with the interest and enthusiasm shown by local Carillion staff who put a lot of effort into ensuring the success of this project. They wish to thank Paul Taylor and the 20 plus volunteers from Carillion that worked so hard and enthusiastically to complete this work. The Trust is looking for other projects in their work area to continue their involvement

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