In many ways, both plants and animals slow down in winter.  Many trees drop their leaves throughout Autumn,  diverting any useful materials to storage in the roots or stem.  Herbaceous plants may wither and die, passing the coldest months as seeds, whilst others overwinter as bulbs, corms or rhizomes. Simliar strategies are seen animals.  Some species enter in to a state of torpor, for example some butterfly adults.  Whilst insects, interrupt their life cycle spending the winter in an immature or arrested state of development [or diapause], such as an egg or pupa.  Others animals pass the cold, winter months in a state of brumation.  This is seen mainly in amphibians and reptiles; it is not dissimilar to hibernation, which is seen in some species of mammals.  During brumation, the heart and respiratory rate fall, and the animal becomes relatively inactive and ‘hidden away’.  However they are still relatively aware of their surroundings and environment and periodically wake up to drink or eat, or indeed bask in the sun if there is a warm interlude. Hibernation on the other hand is seen in some bats, rodents and bears.  Hibernation is not as simple as the animal ‘going to sleep’, it involves profound changes in their physiology.  A number of hormones are involved, for example melatonin, insulin and thyroxin - their combined effect is to lower the metabolic rate.  One animal that goes into hibernation is the hazel dormouse.  [caption id="attachment_37873" align="aligncenter" width="640"] A Hazel Dormouse that has made a nest in a bird box[/caption] It forms a ‘nest’, made out of leaves, bits of bramble etc or it may find a hidden, sheltered place in the roots of trees.  Whilst hibernating they are at risk of predation by foxes, wild boars, owls and domestic cats, if the nest is discovered. If a dormouse has not accumulated enough fat reserves then it will simply run out of energy during the cold weather. It has been estimated that a dormouse loses about 0.5% of its body weight every day during hibernation. They enter into full hibernation when the weather is particularly  harsh.  The recent milder winters have ‘done them no favours’.   Come the Spring, they awaken and forage for food in trees and hazel thickets, feeding on flowers, fruits (e.g. blackberries), insects (aphids, caterpillars) and mature nuts. Their diet changes with the seasons, they are successional feeders. Their habitat of deciduous woodland and hedgerows must offer a variety of woody shrub and tree species to ensure a constant supply of food. Honeysuckle, oak, bramble and hazel are important sources of food to them.  Recent DNA analysis of their droppings identified some 40 species of plants and four species of insect (Lepidoptera and Diptera). Woodlands TV has produced a film about the hazel dormouse - which can be viewed below. [embed]https://youtu.be/COUh5ZluEew?si=xliXKZ7jmj_bhwEJ[/embed] This film was made in collaboration with the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES). More information on the PTES’ monitoring and conservation of hazel dormice can be accessed by clicking here, Note that a licence is required for handling these special animals, details in this link :- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hazel-dormice-survey-or-research-licence-level-1. WoodlandsTV 86.6k subscribers Conservation and Monitoring of Hazel Dormice (part 1) Interesting fact : Though Ireland has no native dormouse, the hazel dormouse was found in County Kildare in 2010.

The hazel dormouse is an arboreal species, that is to say, it spends a large part of the year up in the trees.  It is also largely nocturnal in habit. Its favourite foods are hazelnuts, berries and insects.  Their active period is between Spring and Autumn, and during this time they build a ‘nest’.  These nests tends to made from ‘local materials’ usually found within a few metres of the nest.  Bracken, hazel, beech leaves and grasses are frequently used, though honeysuckle and other species may be incorporated.  The nests are found in trees in deciduous woodlands, thick scrub, and hedgerows, feeding on local available materials depending on the time of year.  They tend not to move great distances, generally having a range of up to a hectare. With the approach of colder weather and limited food supplies, the dormouse tends to move down to the ground and build another nest ready for hibernation.  The winter nest is similar to that built in the canopy with an outer layer of leaves and core of some ‘woven’ material.  Hibernation is a dangerous time for a dormouse.  If the dormouse has not accumulated enough fat reserves then it will simply run out of energy during the cold weather.  It has been estimated that a dormouse loses about 0.5% of its body weight every day during hibernation.  Whilst ‘asleep’, the dormouse is easy prey for a predator and could also die as a result of trampling by a large animal [the nests are inconspicuous], or indeed woodland management activities. [caption id="attachment_41621" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Dormouse in a state of torpor.[/caption] Interestingly, during the dormouse’s active period of Spring and Summer, the dormouse can enter into a state of torpor when food is scarce.   This allows them to save energy through dropping body temperature and heart rate.  So hazel dormice can spend a lot of the year ‘asleep’ in one form or another. Woodlands TV has just produced their first film about the hazel dormouse - which can be viewed below. This film was made in collaboration with the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES). More information on the PTES’ monitoring and conservation of hazel dormice can be accessed by clicking here, Note that a licence is required for handling these special animals, details in this link :- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hazel-dormice-survey-or-research-licence-level-1. [embed]https://youtu.be/COUh5ZluEew?si=f697mPkVLoI8dceU[/embed] Interesting fact : Though Ireland has no native dormouse, the hazel dormouse was found in County Kildare in 2010. Further films by Woodland TV can be found here : -https://www.youtube.com/@WOODLANDSTV    

Out for a walk after the various festivities?  Perhaps you might be able to help the People’s Trust for Endangered Species by undertaking a hedgerow survey.   Across the UK there are many, many hedgerows.  Hedgerows can Provide shelter, homes, perches for a variety of animals,  Food for mammals, birds and invertebrates in the form of flowers, berries and nuts.   Harbour insects that act as important pollinators of wild flowers and crops. Help to reduce flooding and soil erosion,  Help mitigate air and water pollution levels  Store carbon  Act as corridors along which animals, such as hedgehogs and dormice can travel across the countryside. The Trust is looking for volunteers to fill in a survey form and record features of their chosen hedge, such as  the height,  width,  structure and  which tree species are present.  The results will help the trust to build a picture of the health of our hedgerows and how they are changing over time.  To find out more and to take part in the Great British Hedgerow Survey, visit the PTES website for more information : https://hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org/about-our-hedge-surveys

Willow bark and the covid virus. The Covid pandemic created great strains on health and business services, and the virus continues to impact society in many ways.  It is not surprising that there is an ongoing search for anti-viral agents. Finnish scientists have found that willow bark may have a role to play. Willow bark has been used as a natural medicinal product over the centuries as an effective agent to treat pain and inflammation.  The anti-inflammatory properties of the bark are generally ascribed to salicin, which was to lead to the development of acetylsalicylic acid, that is aspirin.  The Finnish scientists ground up the willow bark in hot water and then sieved it to create an ‘extract’.   This solution was then added to a number of cell cultures that were exposed to different viruses (enteroviruses, a seasonal coronavirus and SARS CoV2).  They then monitored the viral activity, cell infection and viral replication  The extract had an effect on all of the viruses.  In some cases, the extract affected the envelope of the virus (a structure surrounding the viral genetic material) so the viruses essentially broke down, whereas others were prevented from releasing their genetic material and reproducing.  Specifically, though the Covid-19 virus could enter cells when treated with the extract, it could not reproduce once inside. The research team analysed the extract’s chemical composition and tested some known constituents of bark but concluded the success of the extract probably resulted from the interactions of different biologically active compounds.  Compounds in the extract included many complex chemicals (for example, hydroxycinnamic acids, salicylates, flavonoids, flavan-3-ols, and proanthocyanidins (polyphenols).  Further work will focus on the role / interactions of these various compounds. The Hazel Dormouse in peril. The numbers of the hazel dormouse have fallen dramatically since the turn of the century.  The dormouse has disappeared from Staffordshire, Northumberland and Herefordshire in the last few years.  This loss is attributed to The destruction / fragmentation of their habitats Poor management of woodlands and hedgerows, leading to a loss of diversity / niches Rising deer numbers, feeding on saplings and shrubs Extreme weather patterns may also play a part Captive-bred dormice have been re-introduced to some 25 sites in 13 counties across the country, sadly nine of these reintroductions were not successful.  Dormouse bridges have been created to enable the animals to move between areas dissected by major roads (such as the M1), others are planned.   The dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) is a nocturnal animal and lives mainly in deciduous woodland,  it feeds among the branches of trees and shrubs. the dormouse rarely descends to the ground.  It feeds on a wide variety of 'foods' ;  flowers (nectar and pollen), fruits (berries and nuts), certain buds and leaves and some insects, such as aphids and caterpillars. The hazel dormouse is regarded as a ‘flagship species’, that is to say, if the dormice are thriving then it is likely that other species are too from butterflies to birds such as the nightingale.  Dormice are currently assessed as ‘Vulnerable’ to extinction in Britain under IUCN Red List criteria, but recent studies suggest a classification of ‘Endangered’ might be more appropriate.  Certainly, their future is uncertain. Detailed information on the hazel dormouse is available at PTES (note this link opens a PDF).  Their report details the state of hazel dormice in 2023. zsaqwa https://youtu.be/4u-yMkXOuTY Changes in the Boreal Forests. Boreal forests encircle the northern reaches of the Earth, lying just below the treeless under of the Arctic.  These forest cover large areas of Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia and Siberia.  These forests contain billions of trees, most are conifers but birch, poplar and aspen may also be found.  The trees (and soils) contribute significantly to the cycling of carbon in nature, absorbing carbon dioxide in photosynthesis. They are also home to many species of migratory birds, plus predator species such as lynx and brown bears, and wandering herds of moose. Due to the remoteness of these forests, they have remained (until relatively recently) unaffected by human impact.  Now these forests are warming at a rate above the global average.  This has a number of effects:  In the southern parts of the boreal forest. Conditions are becoming too warm for cold adapted trees; their growth is slowed and they may die. With the warming comes increased dryness, which leads to water stress and increased risk of insect attack /  infestation. The dryness also means that forest fires are more likely and occur with increased ferocity.  This year, the fires in Canada have been particularly extensive and damaging.  Some 18.5M hectares went up in flames.   The plumes of smoke spread far and wide. [caption id="attachment_40597" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Canadian forest fire[/caption] Scientists are now using satellites to track changes in the extent of the boreal forests.  If trees are being lost on the southern edge of these forest, then it might be expected that the northern limit for tree growth might change.  Indeed, there is some evidence for this in Alaska where young Spruce are now growing some 25 miles beyond the previous tree line, moving into the ‘treeless tundra’.  It may be the loss on the southern edge is compensated by extension of the most northern parts of the boreal forest, but it is not clear whether tree can ‘move’ at the rate of climate change.  

In this country, like others dependent on the internal combustion engine, many animals are killed or wounded on our roads.  One of the first people to comment on the significance of roadkill was the American naturalist Joseph Grinnell; he estimated the mortality count in California (back in 1920 !!) ran into the hundreds if not thousands of animals every day. Read more...