[JohnH (OP)]

I help look after a Trust reserve where Hazel Dormice have been reintroduced. There is Hazel coppice, that is degrading as time goes on. Nothing can be done in the wood until the Dormouse group has OK'd it. I feel they are making the classic mistake of focusing on a single species and  forgetting how important Hazel coppice is to them. The population is doing well for now, which has encouraged actions detrimental to coppiced  Hazel regrowth, I fear they are riding on a wave that could come crashing down in the future . There are many cases of single species focus failing or being hideously expensive.

[Zer0]

Hello John!
Welcome to the TNS Forum.

WooW!
I had never before heard about Hazel dormice or coppice.
(Thanks.)

I'd have to read up a bit before saying anything.
So off i go now.
(Hopefully someone will respond)

Ps - Aww...Dormice are pretty darn cute eh!
🐭

[Colin2B]

I help look after a Trust reserve where Hazel Dormice have been reintroduced. There is Hazel coppice, that is degrading as time goes on.

Which group is running this reintroduction? I assume PTES who have been releasing. They ought to be aware of the importance of habitat management for dormice.
Have you spoken to the mammal society? https://www.mammal.org.uk/species-hub/full-species-hub/discover-mammals/species-hazel-dormouse/
It might be worth contacting researchers in this field eg https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326126680_Habitat_preferences_of_hazel_dormice_Muscardinus_avellanarius_and_the_effects_of_tree-felling_on_their_movement
Who are part of this team https://wildlifescience.org/portfolio/dormouse-conservation/
This document outlines the importance of hazel coppicing and tree cover management https://ptes.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Dormouse-Conservation-Handbook.pdf

I can’t give specific advice as this isn’t my field, but if you have problems finding the right people I have a personal interest in conservation and can ask around my contacts.

[JohnH (OP)]

Thanks all for your input. I have contacted PTES last year. However after the introductions it has really been left for the Dormice group of the trust. I am a retired Ecologist?Environmental; Scientist, who, prior to looking after the reserve as a volunteer, worked the coppice for 8 years. I actually know what I am talking about, but my advice falls on deaf ears. Its so frustrating. I suppose my problem is I am a do'er not a networker - no influence!!

[alancalverd]

Standing way back from any specialist knowledge, the view from this physicist is that whatever species you choose, it has evolved in a particular environment along with a whole bunch of prey, parasites and predators, all interacting with everything else. If you don't recreate the best known conditions completely, your chosen species is unlikely to thrive, or may run riot and destroy its environment.

I don't know about hazel doormice and coppicing, but sparrows, owls and swallows in particular seem to have evolved their behavior very recently (in ecological terms) to exploit the man-made environment, and the recent reintroduction of kites into England may have gone completely awry as they have no significant predators and instead of barren mountain ridges they can cover huge areas by soaring over motorway embankments, thus destroying the vole population. Now a bird that hunts grey squirrels would be handy.....or would it?

[Colin2B]

Now a bird that hunts grey squirrels would be handy.....or would it?

My dream predator 

[JohnH (OP)]

Hi All,
I have to admit my post was a bit of a frustrated vent, apologies for that. However it was also because I am a scientist, who can accept research does change views, and ecology is ripe for that, but I have been away from active research in the field of ecology for about 10 years now, hence the question I posted. When I was more involved, common sense and the general consensus was that focusing too much on conserving a particular species was unlikely to succeed, long term. The exception to this was certain keystone species, but even then it involved extensive investigation into their preferred habitat. I am open to any evidence that refutes this view.

[alancalverd]

You could have a chat with Natural England. They have been known to take a broad and balanced view of reintroductions.

[evan_au]

Here in Australia, the introduced rabbit, fox, cat and cane toad species have run amok with the native marsupials and birds, and we would like to send them back where they came from!