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Woodland, tree-lined watercourses, hedgerows and associated scrub within the Preferred Onshore Cable Corridor and Converter Station Refined Area of Search were identified during the Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey in September and October 2011 together with further surveys in March 2012 as being suitable for Dormice. These features have several woody species, which gives a continuous supply of food from April to November when Dormice are active. Features with the food-plants Corylus avellana (Hazel), Quercus robur (Oak) and Rubus fruticosus agg. (Bramble) are especially important for Dormice.
2.3.3 Gnawed Nut Searches
Wooded areas suitable for Dormice were identified from mapping and during the Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey and systematically searched for characteristic gnawed hazelnuts in January 2012. In suitable habitat where there are Hazel trees in the Preferred Onshore Cable Corridor and Converter Station Refined Area of Search, up to three transects (10m x 10m) were searched in each woodland for nuts that had been clearly opened by Dormice. This method can confirm absence/presence of Dormice with an accuracy of up to 80%. Maps of the Preferred Onshore Cable Corridor and Converter Station Refined Area of Search and the locations of the woodlands where nut searches were carried out are shown in Figures 24.5.1 and 24.5.2 respectively.
2.3.4 Artificial Refuge Surveys
The surveys for Dormice used nest-tubes in appropriate densities and numbers according to habitat type. A total of 940 nest-tubes were placed at 80 locations in March/April 2012. Maps showing the location of the Dormouse nest tubes are shown in Figure 24.5.2.
Nest-tubes were checked on six occasions between May and August 2012. These surveys correlate positively with the index of probability for finding Dormice in any one month (English Nature, 2006) where a minimum search effort score of 20 must be achieved (see Table 1). The surveys were carried out by Sarah Brooks and Gareth Blockley (Natural England Dormouse licence number 20114143 and 20120765 respectively).
Any incidental signs of Dormice i.e. feeding remains, evidence of bark stripping for nest building, wild nests or sightings were also recorded.