Why? To learn about woodland and meadow management at an amazing example to see how they can manage a nature reserve closer to their city base they are taking on the management of. Treswell, towards the north of the county, just happens to have resident dormice that have been re-introduced thanks to a collaborative project involving PTES and Nottinghamshire Dormice Group. The distinctively nibbled nuts are the evidence!

As a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Treswell Wood is one of many nature reserves in Nottinghamshire owned by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and has been managed for many years to maintain a variety of habitats for wildlife including dormice.

Jamie Shortland, the keeping It Wild Youth Worker at Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust said, “We had a real VIP experience learning first hand with Trust staff how they manage the woodland at Treswell. The fact that it has resident dormice which have recently been introduced is a positive distraction!”

Thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust are able to run these activities for young people to gain valuable hands on experience of conservation activities. Jamie continued, “Taking on the management of a nature reserve as a young group is no easy feat but we are really proud of what the team have already achieved at a city site and they are eager to develop their skills further to implement them in the wooded area of the nature reserve.”

From hearing about woodland management to snoring dormice and dormice ecology including how well the reintroduction of dormice at the site has gone (from only one or two sightings four years ago to over 20 recorded this year), the group had a special experience with experts on hand.

For more information about Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Keeping it Wild group for ages 13 to 25 years, visit the web page and apply to join in online.

The group are looking forward to joining the Nottinghamshire Dormice Group in the summer of 2019 to help survey the dormice nest boxes too!