More than 40 rare hazel dormice have been released into ancient woodland in Leicestershire, bolstering efforts to re-establish the tiny mammals in the county.
The reintroduction, undertaken on the Bradgate Park Trust estate, is a key part of ongoing national initiatives by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES).
These programmes aim to save dormice, which have suffered a dramatic decline of over 70 per cent nationally since 2000.
Conservationists attribute this drop to the loss of old woodlands, poor management of remaining habitats, and the destruction or neglect of hedgerows vital for their homes and movement.
This week’s release by PTES and partner organisations follows a successful reintroduction in 2025, when 21 hazel dormice were released into the same woodland, creating Leicestershire’s only known population.
While the dormice released last year have bred and appear to be settling into their new home, more have now been introduced to what is described as one of the finest ancient woodlands in Leicestershire to increase numbers and boost their genetic diversity, PTES said.
Ian White, dormouse and training officer at PTES, said: “Hazel dormice have declined by over 70 per cent nationally since 2000 due to habitat loss, poor woodland and hedgerow management and climate change.
“These figures are extremely concerning, but over the past 30 years our reintroduction programme, alongside habitat restoration, sympathetic woodland management and monitoring, is giving this threatened species a real chance of recovery.
“And, on a local level, by releasing more dormice into Bradgate Park this week, we are one step closer to creating a larger, connected population that hopefully will one day span the whole National Forest, giving further cause for hope.”
Since the first release of dormice in the woodland in June 2025, volunteers and rangers have been regularly checking the nest boxes at Bradgate Park, finding a growing number of nests, an increasing population and evidence of breeding.
Some 46 dormice nests were found in checks carried out in October 2025 while there was evidence of breeding, with 11 young recorded in August and 15 in September.
James Dymond, director of Bradgate Park Trust, said: “We’re hugely encouraged by how well last year’s dormice have settled into their new home, and to know there is evidence of breeding is extremely gratifying for everyone involved in both the release and ongoing monitoring.
“We’re thrilled that more dormice will be joining our existing population this year, and look forward to another summer of nest box checks supported by our fantastic volunteers and, hopefully, finding more evidence of breeding as a result.”
The dormice have been bred in captivity by partner organisations as part of the reintroduction programme, with most of this year’s animals provided by Wildwood Trust following its most successful breeding season to date.
All animals have been given a full health check and quarantined for four weeks to ensure they are healthy and do not carry any disease, before being released in pairs into nest boxes placed inside large mesh enclosures with natural light, foliage and new food and water daily, to help them acclimatise to the wood.
After 10 days, following a final health check, the cage doors will be opened and they will be free to explore the woodland.
The reintroduction programme has seen 1,163 dormice released into 27 different woodlands in 14 counties across Britain since it began in 1993, PTES said.
