This one-day course is from approximately 09:30 to 16:45 and is recognised as the definitive course on dormouse ecology, survey and monitoring. Ideal for those with a general interest, or working towards their Dormouse Handling Licence.
The course will be held at Wildwood Trust in Kent and includes information on relevant legislation, dormouse ecology and conservation, survey techniques and habitat management theory.
Please note, although the trainer is unable to give participants a reference for a licence on the day, they may be able to sign off a few boxes on their dormouse training log, depending on competency demonstrated on the day.
A CPD certificate can be sent on request.
Refreshments will be provided on the day but participants must bring their own lunch.
There will be a field element to this course in which delegates will be led into a woodland and the trainer will carry out a nest box search. Although there are dormice known in the woodland, we cannot guarantee seeing one on the day.
As there is a risk of COVID 19 transmission from humans to small mammals we ask delegates to test beforehand if possible and to let us know if you are showing any symptoms before arrival. Participants will be required to wear a face mask during the field visit and are recommended to bring sturdy shoes and waterproofs.
Trainer: Hazel Ryan
Hazel has worked in conservation for 27 years since graduating from Royal Holloway, University of London with a degree in Ecology. Her current role is Senior Conservation Officer at the Wildwood Trust, Kent, a British wildlife conservation charity, where she manages captive breeding programmes for native mammals including water voles and hazel dormice. She has monitored dormice for the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme since 1995. As a committee member of Kent Mammal Group she co-ordinates small mammal trapping surveys and dormouse training in the county. Hazel is a trustee of Kent Bat Group, a Volunteer Bat Roost Visitor and bat care co-ordinator for Kent. Hazel in an experienced trainer, teaching courses on a wide range of mammal species and co-author of the Mammals of Kent, the county Mammal Atlas published in 2015. She has appeared in many television programmes to talk about mammals including Countryfile, Springwatch, BBC Breakfast, Inside Out, CBeebies and Nature Nuts with Julian Clary. She also enjoys travelling abroad to trap and handle small mammals and bats.
Accessibility:
We are committed to ensuring the accessibility of our training courses. If you require accommodations or have any accessibility concerns, please contact Fiona (training@themammalsociety.org) in advance, and we will be happy to assist you.
For booking terms and conditions click here.
*Please note - If not enough delegates book on to this course it may be postponed with two weeks notice, this is because we are a small charity and need to make sure our events are viable.