Handcrafted nesting boxes are giving a vital helping hand to one of Britain’s most endangered native species.
Members of the Boaz Project in Sutton Scotney, a farm-based charity supporting adults with learning disabilities, made 30 boxes for hazel dormice after being commissioned by Stockbridge ecological consultant Laura Kahane of Wild Earth Ecology.
Hazel dormice have seen their numbers fall by around 70 per cent nationally over the past 25 years.
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The boxes are now being installed at a conservation site in Bullington, a wooded meadow beside the River Dever.
Laura said: "The site is hazel woodland, so ideal for dormice but lacks mature trees with natural nesting holes, so we need the nestboxes.
"The hope is dormice will breed in them.
"The quality of the Boaz boxes is excellent – the best I’ve ever had made."
Boaz members Sam and Sab, alongside volunteer Stan Boyce, helped install the first set of boxes.
The boxes are made from unvarnished plywood from recycled palettes and follow a design from The People’s Trust for Endangered Species with a felt roof added to protect against the elements.
Stan, a retired engineer and Boaz volunteer, said: "This has been a great project to work on providing an opportunity for our members to get a varied range of skills and very satisfying work experience."
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