A cheerful 37 volunteers braved the changeable weather last week for a Moor Meadows/Devon Harvest Mouse Project survey at Brook Manor, Buckfastleigh.
We rummaged through tall tussocks of Cock’s foot grass within 7 acres of rough grassland - looking for the beautiful tightly woven grass nests, which can be found within the base of the tussock. Harvest mice make their distinctive nests in the spring and summer before vacating them, usually in autumn. Survey work is conducted during the winter months.
Results:
We found 11 solitary and 6 breeding Harvest Mouse nests. These numbers are down on the last survey in 2023, but in common with other surveyed sites this season. To our amazement and joy, we also found 11 Hazel Dormice hibernation nests - a totally unexpected find. At the last survey, on the same site, one was discovered.
The Dormice hibernation nests were found across the field, hidden within the base of the tussocks. The Dormice had ventured hundreds of meters from hedgerows to build them. They were vacant nests, bar one. Sarah from the Mammal Trust said she’d not seen this before, neither had she seen such numbers of nests on one site. Interesting! All nests were left in situ and covered over again.
How to survey for nests video:
If you’d like to watch a short video of how to survey for nests see Sarah's informative 3 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhttOGQriY0
Sharing your own records:
If you carry out your own searches you can submit your findings to the Harvest Mouse Project here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/23R5GDK
Love your tussocks…
Leaving areas unmown around the margins of meadows, or at one end (ideally uncut for two or more years) can create tussocky grassland habitat for small mammals and in time attract their predators, like Barn owl and Kestrel.
Also, tussocky grassland is especially important in creating a micro-habitat with a different micro-climate, providing over-wintering and nesting sites for ground beetles and some bumblebees.
And finally, but not least, many native grasses are the food plants for the caterpillar stage of our meadow butterflies. Cocks-foot is the primary grass used by Marbled White, Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Wall, to lay their eggs on. Your flowery meadow is the nectar supply for the butterflies but their caterpillars are grass eaters. Rye grass will not do!