The harvest mouseย isย Britainโs smallest rodentย with a body length ofย 5-8cmย and weight of less than a 2p coin. Itย has adaptedย toย human agricultureย by livingย in the marginsย of cereal crops although can also be found in other similarly structured habitatsย such as reedbeds.ย Itโsย equally at homeย above water or dry ground,ย helpedย considerablyย byย aย semi-prehensile tailย thatโs almost the same length as its body.ย Itโs largely nocturnalย andย its presence is usually indicated by itsย tennis ball-sized nest wovenย out of grasses andย suspended between plant stemsย usually 30-60cm above the groundย and often higher when above water.ย Itโs thought they canย build an entire nest in a single night.
Protected from deliberate cruelty under the Wild Mammals Protection Act. Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.
Arable
Arable is currentlyย isย one of the most intensively managedย land uses and covers a multitude of cropsย fromย the most basic commodity products such as wheat,ย oilseed rape, sugar beetย and potatoes toย moreย specialistย crops such asย linseed and asparagus.ย Some crops are annualย while others, particularly salad crops, canย yield two or three cropsย each yearย on the same piece of land.
Over the winter months, the Society will be getting involved with the National Harvest Mouse Nest Survey, coordinated by The Mammal Society. This survey involves looking for Harvest Mice nests abandoned from the summer to identify Harvest Mice presence. We are hoping to run a training session for this survey in the New Year.
These illustrations are by an artist taking part in a programme delivered by Watts Gallery Trust and funded by the Michael Varah Memorial Fund. This series of 30 Surrey Hills Indicator Species were commissioned by Surrey Hills Society and funded by Surrey Hills Trust Fund as part of the Making Space for Nature Exhibition.