THE Devizes-based Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is urging people to get out into the woods to join in the Great Nut Hunt, a nationwide effort to find out more about one of Europe's rarest animals the dormouse.

Dormouse detectives are needed because the loss of ancient woodland and unsympathetic woodland management have all contributed to the disappearance of dormice from half their former range over the last century.

Dormice will not run large distances over open ground, so the splitting up of large areas of woodland have not helped but Wiltshire remains a stronghold for the dormouse.

Conservationists want to ensure the species continues to thrive but need to know more about where the dormice are and how they have fared since the first Great Nut Hunt in 1993.

The answer will provide an important clue to how well conservation efforts are working and help target future action.

The nocturnal dormouse has a habit that makes it easy to spot the way it nibbles hazelnuts. Its full name is Muscardinus avellianarius, or hazel dormouse.

Mark Satinet, of the trust says: "Dormice nibble a small hole in the shell so they can get the nut out from inside.

"If you find a shell with a round hole about a centimetre across and teeth marks at an angle to the edge, you're probably not far from a sleeping dormouse.

"Shells that have been split in half are usually left by squirrels or birds."

Volunteers from all over Wiltshire have already started nut hunting at 50 key sites where dormice have been recorded, but many more nutters of all ages are needed.

The trust's Wildlife Watch groups for junior wildlife lovers are in woodlands across the county, looking for nibbled nuts.

Eight-year-old Rebekah Ellerby, from Urchfont went nut hunting with the Devizes Watch group.

She said: "Ten people spent a sunny afternoon wandering around Peppercombe Wood, near Urchfont, with their noses to the floor. We are fairly sure that some of the nuts we found were nibbled by dormice.

"We have sent our evidence to the Chief Nutter in London and we hope that he will tell us that dormice have been nibbling our nuts!"

If you would like to join the Great Nut Hunt, contact the trust on (01380) 725670 to receive an official Great Nut Hunt pack with free magnifying glass.