Dormice spend seven months a year asleep
|
Trees in a Cumbrian valley are to be cut back to try to give a protected species a better chance of survival.
The Lake District National Park Authority is leading a coppicing mission in Duddon Valley to help boost dwindling numbers of dormice.
Hazel trees will be cut down to ground level which helps them grow better and survive longer giving the mice a more stable habitat.
Hand tools and not machinery will be used so as not to disturb the mice.
'Precious mammals'
Chris Berry, a ranger for the authority, said: "This sort of work is crucial because it produces vigorous young tree growth which dormice depend on for survival.
"Cumbria has two definite populations in the Duddon Valley and Roundsea Woods at Haverthwaite.
"Although they are more common in the south, there are none in Scotland and we must do all we can to protect these precious little mammals."
Dormice only live for five years and spend seven months of the year hibernating.
One-Minute World News
News services
E-mail this to a friend
Printable version
