Dormouse houses created by Rolls Royce for Goodwood Estate
Apprentices at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars have designed and crafted a series of nest boxes aimed at helping the endangered hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius), a small nocturnal mammal native to the UK. This initiative is part of the luxury carmaker’s ongoing environmental partnership with the nearby Goodwood Estate.
The hazel dormouse, measuring around 6-9cm in length, is one of the UK’s most elusive species, with its population declining by over 50% between 2009 and 2018. This decline is mainly due to habitat loss from the fragmentation of ancient woodlands and hedgerows. Dormice are arboreal creatures, making them particularly difficult to observe, and they face various predators including owls and domestic cats.
In response, the apprentices, through detailed research and collaboration with wildlife trusts, designed the nest boxes to ensure the dormice could safely use them. The boxes feature a specially sized entrance hole that allows the dormice to enter while keeping predators out. For materials, the team selected durable, non-toxic oak, known for its longevity, and crafted the boxes with a distinctive quarter-sawn grain to provide both durability and aesthetic appeal. The boxes are also finished with roofing felt for additional protection against the elements.
The nest boxes were installed in a woodland area rich in hazel and other broadleaf species, providing ideal climbing opportunities with dense understory plants like honeysuckle and ivy. Although there is no definitive proof of dormice currently living in the area, the hope is that these boxes will encourage their return. By monitoring the site, the Goodwood Estate team aims to enhance the woodland habitat and better protect the dormice, ensuring their continued survival in this area.
The hazel dormouse is legally protected in the UK, making it illegal to harm or disturb them, or to interfere with their shelters, including the new nest boxes.
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