DORMICE in the local area will soon have better accommodation to nest in this year thanks to the efforts of a local Cubs and Scouts group.

Members of the 1st Charmouth group have been busy building nesting boxes for local dormice.

Over the past few weeks they have been building a total of 36 dormouse nesting boxes to a specification provided by the Dorset Wildlife Trust. The 1st Charmouth group ordered more than 40 metres of fresh larch, and this was kindly sawn up into the kits by one of the parents in the workshop at Monkton Wyld Court.

There was still plenty of work left to do for the Cubs and Scouts, however, as some of the parts still had to be carefully sawn along the guidelines provided then glued and nailed together in the correct order.

Kevin Payne, one of the Cub leaders at 1st Charmouth, said: “We were keen to work on another project with Dorset Wildlife Trust. This seemed like a great idea as the members could complete the boxes while we were still unable to meet face to face.

"We hope to arrange a mass hand over of all the completed boxes in the near future and are now on the lookout for some 9 millimetre plywood so we can start making barn owl boxes.”