When the dormice speak, we listen 🐭🌿
It’s great to be back after the Christmas and the new years overindulgence. Time to shake off those extra Christmas pudding pounds.
Winter is a vital season at Coed y Werin. With the trees at rest and the woodland quieter, these colder months give us an important opportunity to carry out careful management that supports the wildlife that depends on this special place, including one of our most cherished residents, the dormouse.
Dormice rely on healthy, well-connected woodland with a rich mix of trees, shrubs, and ground cover. Winter work such as coppicing, selective thinning, and path maintenance helps maintain this balance. By letting light reach the woodland floor and encouraging fresh growth of hazel, bramble, and other native plants, we are helping to create the food sources and shelter dormice need throughout the year.
Behind every management task is a focus on care, ensuring the woodland remains a safe and thriving habitat for dormice, birds, insects, and many other species.
Winter is also the time when this work can be done with minimal disturbance. Dormice are hibernating, and many birds are not yet nesting, allowing us to put tools to use responsibly and thoughtfully. Every action is guided by ecological awareness and the long-term health of the woodland.
As winter fades and spring approaches, our approach changes. Nesting and breeding season marks a period when we step back. Tools are put down, activity slows, and we allow Mother Nature to take the lead. This pause is just as important as the work itself, giving wildlife the space it needs to raise young and flourish.
By working with the seasons, Coed y Werin remains a place where people and wildlife coexist. Winter effort supports spring life, and careful stewardship ensures that dormice, and many other woodland creatures, will continue to call Coed y Werin home for generations to come.
Get Involved This Winter
Winter is also a time when people can play a meaningful role in caring for Coed y Werin. Volunteering during the quieter months offers a chance to spend time in the woodland, learn practical conservation skills, and contribute directly to the habitats that support dormice and other wildlife. Whether helping with gentle management tasks, path maintenance, or simply getting to know the woodland better, every contribution helps prepare Coed y Werin for the burst of life that spring will bring. If you’d like to be involved, we’d love to hear from you contact cwtcoedywerin@gmail.com.
