Exford School's dormouse hunt (From This is The West Country)

Exford School's dormouse hunt

1:40pm Monday 22nd November 2010 in Somerset

CHILDREN at Exford School turned detective as they looked for the telltale signs of dormice in Exmoor’s woodlands.

During the dormouse hunt they examined nuts for signs of woodmouse, squirrel and dormouse nibbling.

Teacher Jan West said: “It was an excellent morning – children and staff gained much knowledge of their local environment and there was loads of enthusiasm for this topic.”

The group of seven to nine-year-olds were led by licensed dormouse handler Ben Williams from the national park’s education team.

He taught them the importance of the dormouse habitat and how it can be affected by the invasion of the rhododendron shrub and excessive woodland management.

The nature detectives kept an eye open for any tracks or evidence of animals such as foxes, badgers, rabbits and deer.

They also compared the nesting and eating habits of woodmice and dormice.