A Home for Dormice
In early 2024, after grounds team found a Dormouse in the parklands, Russborough collaborated with Wild Gaia to establish Ireland’s first dormouse monitoring site, following guidelines from the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme. Fifty wooden dormouse boxes were installed across the estate to study the recently discovered hazel dormouse population in County Kildare. The initial monitoring in May 2024 yielded promising results, with several boxes occupied by adult dormice and their young, indicating a thriving population. This initiative not only enhances our understanding of the dormouse’s ecology in Ireland but also underscores Russborough’s commitment to wildlife conservation and biodiversity.