Defra scheme helps safeguard harvest mice
"The Countryside Stewardship Scheme has tangible benefits for all wildlife, in particular the harvest mouse, as previously removed wildlife 'corridors' and features are being re-created which not only promote harvest mice but also help stabilise the natural wildlife balance."
Wendy Fail, a student at Newcastle University, is carrying out research into the harvest mice at Earsdon Hill.
 Photo credit: Andrew Price |
A partnership between two farmers and Defra will safeguard possibly one of the last remaining colonies of harvest mice in the North East.
John and Phillip Gregory, of Earsdon Hill and Earsdon West Forest farm in Northumberland, have already signed up to Defra's Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS), which has helped boost local wildlife populations. The father and son aim to extend their existing agreement to help improve and extend the wildlife habitats for several bird and mammal species, in particular the harvest mouse.
At a length of 50-70mm and a weight of 4-6g - around the same as a 20p piece - the harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) is Britain's smallest and most elusive mouse and is mainly found from central Yorkshire southwards. Naturalists believe that only four harvest mouse colonies remain in the North East, two in Northumberland and two in County Durham. A survey carried out in the 1970s found mice at Earsdon Hill and a second survey 18 years later again produced a positive result.
 Photo credit: Andrew Price |
The Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) offers payments to farmers and land managers to improve the natural beauty and diversity of the countryside. The new agreement aims to restore ancient woodland, improving and creating new habitats by extending grass margins, adding wildlife mix areas, and ensuring at least 20 hectares a year are over- wintered as stubble and fallow, to provide valuable winter food for birds.
This will not only help the harvest mouse colony but also a host of other animal and birdlife, including red squirrels, tree sparrows, grey partridges, lapwings, skylarks, curlews, bullfinches, turtle doves and yellowhammers.
Wendy Fail, a student at Newcastle University, is carrying out research into the harvest mice at Earsdon Hill. She said:
"The fascinating yet diminutive harvest mouse is one of the most understudied small mammals found within Great Britain and the northern hemisphere. However, they are thought to be in a state of population decline believed to be mainly due to the intensification of farming during the last century, which has fragmented landscapes and reduced the areas of suitable habitat."
"My research aims to study the behaviour, home range and population success rate of the harvest mouse in Northumberland to establish any determining factors as to why there's so few colonies and perhaps identify the required landscape features to help achieve a successful re-introduction programme."
Page last modified:
19 May, 2005
Page published: 10 December, 2002