Nature for Health volunteers help dormice

Volunteers have helped build 20 dormouse nest boxes in Prestatyn.

Around 15 Nature for Health volunteers helped Denbighshire County Council’s Countryside Service put together the boxes.

Dormice are an endangered species and the loss of hedgerows and a change in the management of woodlands has led to a dramatic decline in their numbers, 72 per cent between 1993 and 2014.

Liam Winning, Assistant Countryside Ranger, said: “By creating these nest boxes we hope to support an increase in numbers over the next few years. The boxes were made using locally sourced, non tanalised timber and will be installed and monitored on a site which is important for dormice in Denbighshire.”

Nature for Health is part of the Council’s work to protect and enhance the environment under its Corporate Plan and aims to improve people’s lives through health and wellbeing activities, helping individuals and communities in Denbighshire connect with the countryside and adopt healthy habits.

Denbighshire Countryside Service is working in partnership with Denbighshire Housing to deliver the project with support from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Bangor University.

If you would like to get involved with Nature for Health in Rhyl or Prestatyn contact Claudia Smith on 01824 708313 or email claudia.smith@denbighshire.gov.uk