Road bridge is new dormice home

Wednesday 25th April 2012

A family of dormice has made a road bridge their new home, thanks to a pioneering design from the National Trust.

The charity has planted shrubs and trees along either side of the bridge over the A21, which has divided areas of woodland.

The land-bridge, on the National Trust's Scotney Castle estate, near Tunbridge Wells, in Kent, allows wildlife to live in harmony alongside motorists who use the dual carriageway.

A series of surveys, carried out in 2001 identified the presence of protected species including badgers, birds, snakes and dormice and were instrumental in the Trust's successful bid for a land-bridge.

National Trust rangers recently discovered that a female hazel dormouse and her babies were living on the land-bridge.

The internationally protected species has seen numbers dwindle in recent years and is now at risk of extinction.

Head ranger Ross Wingfield said: "I think that it's great that in such a short period of time the wildlife at Scotney Castle and its surroundings is comfortable using the land-bridge.

"As time goes on I'm sure that we will find many more species using the land-bridge as a safe haven."

Dormouse expert Dr Pat Morris said: "This is proof that making wildlife-friendly adjustments to bridges does actually work.

"Eight mammal species now use it and the bridge also offers a tranquil and safe way for visitors to approach the Scotney Estate across a busy main road."

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