Dormouse Database (1905-2004)

Cronfa Ddata Pathewod

This database was created to store records generated through the Great Nut Hunt and to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of the distribution of the dormouse across England and Wales. The dormouse does not occur in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

The dataset has been used to support reporting on Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) delivery. As the records were derived largely from contributed observations rather than systematic survey effort, the dataset is subject to bias towards locations visited during Great Nut Hunt activities.

Grid references generally refer to the centroid of the woodland in which dormice were recorded, rather than the precise location of the observation. Many grid references have not yet been validated using a Geographic Information System (GIS) to confirm that they fall within woodland boundaries. This validation process is ongoing and typically results in the use of eight-figure grid references (10 m resolution).

The dataset includes the recorder name, site name, grid reference, and type of sighting (for example, whether the animal was alive or dead, or the location of a nest).

Records originate from a variety of sources and have been collated and maintained by Tony Mitchell-Jones at English Nature. The dataset represents an incomplete directory of sites, some of which are monitored annually as part of the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme.

Only the most recent record for each site is included in this dataset; historical records are retained within the source database. The source data also include record source information and associated comments.

Records are generally stored using six-figure British National Grid references, with the precision of the original observations unknown. All grid references represent the centre point of the site.

Dynodydd Identifier: NRW_DS24307

Teitl Amgen Alternative Title

Dormouse Database - NE - Welsh Extract CCW000380000000C

Laith Metadata Metadata Language: English

Lineage: The presence of dormice was determined using a variety of survey methods, all of which are recorded within the dataset. These methods provide differing levels of confidence in species identification:

High confidence

Live animal observed

Dead animal recorded

Confirmed dormouse-opened hazelnut

Nest box occupancy

Medium confidence

Unconfirmed dormouse-opened hazelnut

Nest located in vegetation

Low confidence

Reported sighting

Other evidence

Unknown evidence type

Unconfirmed nest

Records were obtained from three principal sources:

Hazel nuts opened by dormice collected by members of the public during two Great Nut Hunts. All opened nuts were verified by Dr P. Morris.

Occasional records submitted by individual observers.

Site data from the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme, which typically included observations of live animals.

Data collection was limited to records collected since 1990. Since that time, record acquisition has been sporadic and largely associated with the Great Nut Hunts and other projects that gathered dormouse records, such as hedgerow surveys.

The majority of records are based on the identification of hazelnuts opened in a characteristic manner by dormice. These may be found throughout the year, although winter is generally the most productive period for surveys. Such evidence typically indicates the presence of dormice within the previous 12 months, depending on local conditions and the rate of shell decomposition.

For this reason, the year of the record is generally more important than the precise date of observation.

Dyddiad cyfeirnod y set ddata (Cyhoeddiad) Dataset Reference Date (Publication): 2004-06-01

Temporal Extent

Begin date: 1905-05-15

End date: 2004-06-01

Categori pwnc Topic category

Biota

Biota

Perchennog

Owner

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -

Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en

Cychwynnwr

Originator

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -

Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en

Cychwynnwr

Originator

Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) -

Countryside Council for Wales, Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW

http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/

Extent

Hyd Geographic Extent: Wales (WLS)

Fformat - Math a Disgrifiad Format Type and Description

Database ( Unknown )

Specification

Microsoft Access database; Welsh extract of the species data held in Recorder 6 (Dormouse Database - NE - Welsh Extract)

Ansawdd Data

Data quality

Cwmpas Ansawdd Quality Scope: Dataset

Dataset

Cydymffurfiad Conformity: Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
Explanation: This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation.
Degree: false

Lineage: The presence of dormice was determined using a variety of survey methods, all of which are recorded within the dataset. These methods provide differing levels of confidence in species identification:

High confidence

Live animal observed

Dead animal recorded

Confirmed dormouse-opened hazelnut

Nest box occupancy

Medium confidence

Unconfirmed dormouse-opened hazelnut

Nest located in vegetation

Low confidence

Reported sighting

Other evidence

Unknown evidence type

Unconfirmed nest

Records were obtained from three principal sources:

Hazel nuts opened by dormice collected by members of the public during two Great Nut Hunts. All opened nuts were verified by Dr P. Morris.

Occasional records submitted by individual observers.

Site data from the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme, which typically included observations of live animals.

Data collection was limited to records collected since 1990. Since that time, record acquisition has been sporadic and largely associated with the Great Nut Hunts and other projects that gathered dormouse records, such as hedgerow surveys.

The majority of records are based on the identification of hazelnuts opened in a characteristic manner by dormice. These may be found throughout the year, although winter is generally the most productive period for surveys. Such evidence typically indicates the presence of dormice within the previous 12 months, depending on local conditions and the rate of shell decomposition.

For this reason, the year of the record is generally more important than the precise date of observation.

Allweddair

Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

Species distribution

Math Type: Theme

Theme

Dyfyniad

Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad) Date (Publication): 2008-06-01

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme

Allweddair

Keywords

NRW Thesaurus

mammals (see also specific species)(see also animals)
muscardinus avellanarius
dormice (dormouse)
hazel dormouse (common dormouse)

Math Type: Theme

Theme

Dyfyniad

Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad) Date (Publication): 2026-08-27

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Code: British National Grid (EPSG::27700)

Gwybodaeth Cynnwys

Content Information

Proffil CNC

NRW Profile

Elfennau CNC

Custom Elements

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Math o Gyfyngiad Restriction type: Other restrictions

Other restrictions

Access Constraints Directive

Limitations: no limitations

Access Constraints Text

Other constraints: There are no access restrictions to this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.

Use Constraints

Cyfyngiadau Defnyddio Use constraints type: Other restrictions

Other restrictions

Other constraints: © CNC/NRW, 2004. Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose. Attribution statement: Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved.

Attribution Statement

Licence

Other constraints: Open Government Licence

Metadata

Dynodydd Ffeil File Identifier: 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-3234333037 XML

Laith Metadata Metadata Language: English

Math o adnodd Resource type: Dataset

Dataset

Dyddiad Metadata Metadata Date: 2026-10-01T15:09:18.004Z

Enw Safonol Metadata Metadata Standard Name: NRW

Fersiwn Metadata Metadata Standard Version: 1.0

Pwynt Cyswllt

pointOfContact

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -

Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en

Publishing Body

Access the portal

Full access to the portal and metadata.

Dormouse Database (1905-2004)

Cronfa Ddata Pathewod

Identification

Temporal Extent

Extent

Extent

Distribution

Quality

Ansawdd Data

Data quality

Keywords

Allweddair

Keywords

Dyfyniad

Citation

Allweddair

Keywords

Dyfyniad

Citation

Spatial Reference System

Content

Gwybodaeth Cynnwys

Content Information

Proffil CNC

NRW Profile

Elfennau CNC

Custom Elements

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Access Constraints Directive

Access Constraints Text

Use Constraints

Attribution Statement

Licence

Metadata

Metadata

Publishing Body

Identification

Temporal Extent

Extent

Extent

Distribution

Quality

Ansawdd Data Data quality

Keywords

Allweddair Keywords

Dyfyniad Citation

Allweddair Keywords

Dyfyniad Citation

Spatial Reference System

Content

Gwybodaeth Cynnwys Content Information

Proffil CNC NRW Profile

Elfennau CNC Custom Elements

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Access Constraints Directive

Access Constraints Text

Use Constraints

Attribution Statement

Licence

Metadata

Metadata

Publishing Body

Ansawdd Data

Data quality

Allweddair

Keywords

Dyfyniad

Citation

Allweddair

Keywords

Dyfyniad

Citation

Gwybodaeth Cynnwys

Content Information

Proffil CNC

NRW Profile

Elfennau CNC

Custom Elements