Meetings Small Mammal Workshop Broomhill August 14 2004   B. Stringer   Report  Species  Photos    
     
The event was organised at Broomhill Farm by The Lezant Parish Group on behalf of the 5 parishes in the Project. Our hosts Linda Smith and David Baldock are keen on conservation and made us very welcome - "We were delighted to host this well managed project, involving local people taking part in workshops that are of benefit to the continued understanding and appreciation of wildlife and environmental issues. Broomhill is an idea place to hold these events and we are looking into increasing the facilities available for future workshops."

The workshop was provided by the ERCCIS Mammal Project. Alex Howie from ERCCIS ran the event, supported by her partner Dave. Our own local expert, Steve Robbins provided valuable support in the week before, setting traps in the study areas- see below.

Report from Alex:  I think it would be fare to say that a good day was had by all 30 people who attended the small mammal workshop at Broomhill, Lezant on the 15th August. We were lucky enough to be graced with dry weather!

The first part of the day was spent checking 20 Longworth traps that had been set the previous night, for small mammals. The traps were set in two types of habitat; 10 traps in an orchard with rough grassland/scrub, surrounded by mature Cornish hedges with a stream running along the bottom, and 10 on opposite sides of a hay cut field, 5 along an old established Cornish hedge and 5 along a relatively new Cornish hedge/bank.

The afternoon was spent going through how to identify the different small mammals we find in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and the various methods that can be used to survey for them.

Species found

2 days before On the day
The Orchard:
Wood Mice
Bank Voles:
Common Shrew:
4 Species
3 Species
1 species		  
2 F and 3 M 
            1 M
The Hay meadow
Wood Mice:
Bank Voles
Pygmy Shrew
2 species
   ......
1 species
3 F
            1 juv. M
 
We also found a fresh Barn Owl pellet on a fence post which contained 2 Common Shrew skulls and a Field Vole skull.

10 bait tubes were also put down by the stream below the Orchard one week before.  Jac Cooksey organised this for us. We are still waiting for the results of the analysis, but the first reactions are encouraging.

If you would like to receive information on small mammals and similar events please contact
The Mammals Project Co-ordinator, ERCCIS, Five Acres, Allet, Truro, TR4 9DJ.  Tel: 01872 240 777