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Search forCompanies work together to ensure the safety of an endangered species
Friday, November 21, 2008, 12:00
Landscaping and environmental group UPM Tilhill has worked with Network Rail to establish a 400m stretch in Scrag's Oak, by the railway line, for the tiny rodent.
Andrea Gannon, rail ecologist with UPM Tilhill's South East England district office, routinely carries out environmental surveys of areas ear– marked for clearance. She identified the area along the Tonbridge to Hastings line at Scrag's Oak, near Wadhurst, as a hazel rich environment noted for its potential as a desirable dormouse habitat.
"Safety is the priority when maintaining the line side environment and at Scrag's Oak it was clear that much of the vegetation along the area's steep banks would need to be removed to ensure clear sight lines for train operatives," she explained. "However, Network Rail fully supported our recommendations to maintain the hazel rich environment higher up the banks which we felt would be attractive to dormice – a much loved but sadly endangered species in the UK."
To encourage the dormice to prosper, 50 presence and absence tubes and 20 breeding boxes have been installed across the site, which in areas has also been cut down to ground level for safety reasons. Ken West, president of the Kent Mammal Group, was on hand to offer advice on how best to cater for the animals and was very pleased at the work taking place.
He said: "The reason dormice numbers are declining sharply in the UK is predominantly down to loss of habitat. It is wonderful to see companies working together and taking action to preserve and enhance these precious habitats."
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