BEDGEBURY Pinetum at Goudhurst is now the home to an endangered species. A litter of dormice have been found in a nesting box - one of 20 put in the forest at the end of May.

The mice were discovered during a routine survey of the boxes. Wildlife ranger at Bedgebury, Steve Peters said: "We are very excited by the find so early on in the project. We fully expected not to find anything until next year."

The find coincides with a survey conducted into dormouse habitats by the Forest Enterprise, which manages the pinetum, and the Kent Mammal Group.

Both were surprised to discover that the dormice found nesting in the pinetum had made their nest out of birch, bracken and willowherb. Previously dormice habitats in Kent had always consisted of hazel.

Mr Peters added: "The critters in Bedgebury have set a precedent. It is very unusual to find the little creatures nesting in birch. We are hoping this success will be just the start."

The Forest Enterprise manages eight other woods in Kent and has put dormice boxes in all of them.