Lakeway Ecology is offering a two-day dormouse course in Devon. Read on to find out more about the course and how to book your place.
About the trainer
Emma Scotney, is one of the Ecologists at Lakeway Ecology and will be delivering this dormouse course. Over the last decade, she has been actively involved with the surveying and monitoring of dormice and various other European Protected Species across the South West. Emma holds a dormouse class licence (CL10a) and currently monitors four National Dormouse Monitoring Programme sites and other smaller dormouse projects.
Emma has experience teaching in the field and in a classroom setting. She has a Level 3 Award in Education and Training (RQF).
About the venues
This in-person course will be held at two different locations that are just 15 minutes apart by car.
Day 1 (9am to 5pm) will be at Lakeway Office, Devon (A30 BC, Higher Stockley Mead, Okehampton EX20 1BG, What3Words subway.labels.gifted).
Day 2 (9am to 3pm) will be at Ashridge Court Farm, Devon (Ashridge Lane, North Tawton, EX20 2DH, What3Words reviewed.game.insolvent).
About the course
We are proud to say that Peoples Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) have contributed to the course content and its development, giving you confidence in this high-quality course.
This course is suitable for ecologists, rangers, site managers and owners, students, nature enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in hazel dormice. A basic background knowledge of small mammals would be beneficial.
This detailed course will include a mixture of classroom-based learning and field-based learning and will include:
- Dormouse identification, ecology, conservation and legislation – theory
- Dormouse survey techniques – theory
- Dormouse habitat management and habitat assessments – theory and practical
- Identification of opened nuts (including dormouse) – theory and practical
- Identification of dormouse nests (and other species) – theory and practical
- Erecting and checking nest tubes for occupancy – theory and practical
- Erecting and checking nest boxes for occupancy – theory and practical
- Erecting and checking footprint tunnels for occupancy – theory and practical
- Dormice and developments
- Use of recording forms used by the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme – practical
The classroom learning is accessible to all. The field-based learning will include walks to and within woodlands, which will include uneven and wet ground and brambles.
We will check 50 dormouse nest boxes and 10 nest tubes on a site with a known dormouse population as a group. Lakeway Ecology cannot guarantee the presence or evidence of hazel dormice and therefore handling experience.
The current Covid-19 guidance is to wear a mask when in close proximity to dormice as well as clean sanitised hands. This guidance will be followed at all times.
If you are using the PTES dormouse training log this course will cover at least nine of the requirements:
- Attendance of a dormouse course
- Dormouse ecology and conservation theory
- Dormouse survey techniques theory and practical experience
- Dormouse habitat management theory
- Identify nuts opened by dormice, wood mice, voles and squirrels
- Identify typical dormouse nests, wood mouse nests, harvest mouse nests and bird nests
- Demonstrate how to approach a nest box and check for occupancy
- Demonstrate how to fill in recording forms used by the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme
Emma will therefore be able to sign the above sections of the PTES dormouse training log (or any other method of recording your experience) providing your attendance and contribution throughout the day is satisfactory. This evidence may be used to support a potential future application for a Natural England licence which will depend on the signatories of two other referees (or other suitable pieces of evidence).
Natural England guidance on training courses was updated on 3rd June 2026 and more information can be found here –https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protected-species-licences-references-for-applications/protected-species-licences-guidance-on-getting-references-to-support-applications.
You will receive a certificate of attendance upon completion of this course, providing your attendance and contribution throughout the duration of the course is satisfactory, including an assessment.
There are a maximum of 12 spaces on this course. This number ensures that each delegate has opportunity to ask questions, examine dormouse evidence, if found, and check several dormouse nest boxes and nest tubes. A minimum of 8 bookings are required in order to run this course. If we cannot run this course in October 2026, you will receive a full refund and the course will be rescheduled for a later date.
Cost of the course
This course will cost £270.00 per person (including VAT). This course fee covers elements such as staff time, resources, insurance, admin costs and hiring the of venues. A proportion of the profits will be used to support staff time in undertaking dormouse box checks on the two NDMP schemes that we run.
What to bring
You will need;
Suitable outdoor clothing to include sturdy shoes or wellies, long trousers, waterproofs (depending on the weather) and a mask for the fieldwork.
A way to make notes such as paper, phone, tablet etc. There is free wifi available at Lakeway Office.
If you are considering applying for a dormouse class licence in the future, please bring your logbook so that it can be signed appropriately.
How to book
To book your place, please complete the booking form which can be downloaded below, and email it to training@lakeway-ecological.co.uk. Once payment is received your booking will be confirmed.