Jailbirds at High Down prison in Sutton are using their inside knowledge to help threatened dormice live safely behind bars.
Inmates at the category-B jail have built 230 nesting boxes to enable Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT) to repopulate the mammals.
The dormouse project began when David Harding, an officer instructor, offered SWT free use of his prison woodshop workforce.
Eight offenders on the course soon stopped repairing office furniture and began eagerly crafting creature comforts.
Dave Williams, the mammal project officer for SWT, said: “The boxes are made to a high standard perfect for dormouse needs.
"We will now be able to replace old and broken boxes, as well as place them in new woodlands. It is a great boost for the Surrey dormouse project.”
SWT supplied the plans and material for the dormouse boxes, with funds from the People’s Trust for Endangered Species.
The next stage involves prisoners building owl and hedgehog boxes, using wood donated by a timber firm in Guildford.
Mr Harding said: “Many prisoners require structure and opportunity in order to make positive changes for the future.
"I would like to make my workshop an environment where such changes are encouraged via honest, challenging and worthwhile work.”
Dormice, protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, are only usually detected in woodland when their teethmarks are found on opened nuts.
With just 12 known breeding sites around Surrey, SWT hopes artificial boxes will make it easier for the shy creatures to raise their young over the summer.
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