Okement Rivers Improvement Group (ORIG) have been putting up dormouse nest boxes to encourage the return of dormice to Old Town Park.The group worked with dormouse handler Matt Parkins to put up the boxes in the park on Saturday, September 25, the last weekend of the national Great Big Green Week.Matt, a local woodland consultant and registered dormouse handler, is advising the group how to tempt the dormice to return.They are clearing the flush meadow to let in light and gradually replacing the old dormouse nest boxes.

Just an hour or so of clearing brambles and unwanted shrubs in the flush meadow has already created a much lighter area. This will create a better habitat for native small insects and mammals.

In the process an old dormouse hibernation nest from last winter was found — hopefully this will be reused by another animal.

The volunteers then put up several new dormouse nest boxes close to the old ones.

These will be allowed to weather in and lose the ‘human’ scent ready for dormouse use this winter.

Matt even found a field mouse using an old nest in one old box, which was exciting for the volunteers!