This art print of dormice in a summer hedgerow (hazel and wild strawberries) is designed to bring a little woodland wildlife to your walls. This lovely little squirrel is surrounded by Scots pine, hawthorn and hazel, along with woodland mushrooms. Sold unframed, the print is available in A3 or A4 size, by artist Claire Tuxworth.
Hazel dormice are very rare to see. For a start, they are very endangered so protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Also they are tiny and only come out at night. Mostly found in southern England, they also spend a good deal of the year asleep!
But this is why they are endangered. As they need lots of hazelnuts and other hedgerow food to stock up well, so they survive their long winter sleep. Along with bats and hedgerows, they are one of just three mammals in England to hibernate through the winter season. As well as hazelnuts (their favourite food), they also enjoy snacking on berries and insects.
These gingery-brown furry friends have long fluffy tails and large black eyes. And like to bed down for the night in logs or leaves, at the bases of trees. So again the lack of woodland these days, is another reason why dormice are so endangered. Read more on how to help endangered sleepy dormice.
