Harvest Mouse: Action Plan

What we want to achieve - Key objectives

• Raise awareness of the need to maintain and extend Harvest Mouse populations and encourage participation in their conservation
• Carry out surveys*, record signs and sightings of Harvest Mice, and submit records to the Barnsley Biological Record Centre
• Determine Harvest Mouse populations and distribution across Barnsley
• Restore, improve, maintain and create suitable Harvest Mouse habitats
• Create links and corridors between appropriate sites with a view to reducing the distance between existing populations.

* at known established sites and potential new sites

Marking Progress

• Number of sites supporting colonies of Harvest Mouse
• Size of colonies of Harvest Mice
• Sites under appropriate conservation management for Harvest Mouse

Achievements

• Harvest Mouse nest surveys, including annual surveys at Worsbrough Reservoir. Sorby, DVLP
• Riparian Mammal project NIA. 2012-15
• Training in Harvest Mouse nest surveys
  Sorby, NIA, DVLP 2015

Proposed actions

• Provide advice on measures to support and increase Harvest Mice numbers
• Analysis of existing and historic records:
• Further surveys of known sites and of areas where previously recorded
• Further habitat improvement for Harvest Mice in the Dearne Valley

Roles:

Land owners and managers:

• follow best practice in managing grasslands and wetlands to support and extend existing Harvest Mice populations

Wildlife conservation bodies:

• give advice and provide practical support for habitat management for Harvest Mice.

Barnsley Council as planning authority:

• takes into consideration records of Harvest Mouse presence in the planning process
• sets conditions in relevant planning applications to ensure that relevant habitats for Harvest Mice are maintained and enhanced;

Voluntary groups and volunteers:

• provide records of sightings and signs of Harvest Mice
• help with information about the condition of sites that support Harvest Mice
• help with measures to support Harvest Mice, eg: habitat management.

Harvest Mouse Action Plan