Dormouse hunter Katrina Catling, an Osborne Middle School pupil, finds evidence the creatures live on the Island. Picture by Peter Boam.
CHILDREN from Osborne Middle School have been busily scouring nearby woodland in a bid to track down one the country’s most elusive creatures — the dormouse.
Responding to a call for help from the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, which is trying to gather as much information as possible about the dormouse population with a national Golden Great Nut Hunt, a group of youngsters and their families searched the woods around Osborne House to see what they could find.
It may be a threatened species nationally but the dormouse is apparently thriving on the Isle of Wight.
"We found lots of hazel nuts that had been nibbled by a variety of creatures, including woodmice, bank voles, squirrels, birds and, most importantly, dormice," said assistant headteacher David Moorse.
"Everyone was really thrilled to be taking part and it’s important to get people involved.
"The more we can do to protect the nature on our doorstep, the better."
• Another picture in the Friday, October 30, County Press.
Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk