Breakthrough for Bridport Cohousing – first new homes on site (for dormice) !!
Bridport Cohousing are a local Community Land Trust who have been working hard for the past 8 years to get plans in place for building 34 genuinely affordable and sustainable houses built for local people and last Friday was a really exciting day for us as we were able to start work on our field.
A section of hedgerow needed to be removed in order to make an entrance for the machinery that will start putting in the infrastructure on site, which is due to start in spring 2017, and in the winter months there would be no problem with disturbing nesting birds.
We are mindful that this may affect other local wildlife species, and because dormice may be active in nearby woodland on Allington Hill, we enlisted the help of ecologist Bronwen Bruce of Abbas Ecology to look for signs of them hibernating.
Although no dormice were found on the day Bronwen helped us put up four special dormouse nestboxes which had been purchased, so that in the spring they will provide safe places for the dormice to build nests and, hopefully, breed.
The common (or hazel) dormouse is an endangered British species which spends the winter months in hibernation, often in the shelter of hedgerows, underneath leaves or logs. A small golden brown mammal, with large black eyes and a furry tail, it is well know to us through the story of Alice In Wonderland, where it fell asleep in a teapot at the Hatter’s tea party.
”We are very keen to develop the site with a view to sustainable living; and creating even more biodiversity around our living spaces is important to us – ponds and native tree planting will create more habitats and we plan to actively manage our hedgerows and trees to create the right environment for these beautiful and elusive creatures.” said spokesperson Lin .
Members worked really hard, with the help of our mangement consultant Charles Couzens ( wielding chainsaw) to achieve the breakthrough and we were pleased that prospective member Alison and newest members Emily and Herbie gave a helping hand just when we needed it.
If you would like further information about cohousing and whether it might be right for you please have a look at our website and get in touch soon.
www.bridoprtcohousing.org.uk
Lin Scrannage
