Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

I Built A Scaled-Down Village For Wild Mice In My Garden, And They Love It
User submission
30.9K

I Built A Scaled-Down Village For Wild Mice In My Garden, And They Love It

ADVERTISEMENT

I am a wildlife photographer and I have built a miniature Hobbit-style village for wild mice who live in my garden. I have built miniature houses from wood to resemble the scenery from “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” films. The mouse village is constantly growing and changing, and the mice love it.

I started photography when I was suffering from depression to help get me back out in the world, give me a goal, and keep my mind active. Then one day, I got a photo of 1 mouse in the garden and I set out to build him a home. Soon, other mice came along and the home became a whole mouse village. Here are just some of the images.

I capture these very cute critters as they explore my magical mouse garden. I create some very fun homes and props for the mice to explore and have fun with. All the mice are 100% wild and free and protected from the local cats in the safe haven I created for them.

Mice have their very own Facebook page so be sure to pop over and say hello at “George the mouse in a log pile house”.

If you would like to see more of my works, see here.

More info: Facebook

RELATED:

    I have built a miniature Hobbit-style village for wild mice who live in my garden

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The mouse village has grown over the years and has many homes for the mice to explore

    After a tree fell over in the garden, we made use of the stump by hollowing it out as a home for the mice

    And the mice have wasted no time in getting used to the pub life

    The family of mice in the big manor house on the hill

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    An old coconut shell makes for a great tree house

    The best wildlife TV show in the world

    One of the many mice enjoying blackberries from the brambles

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The best berries are hard to reach, so I made the mice a ladder

    Mr. Acorn helps to feed the mice as I am on standby with the glue just in case he loses an arm

    Well, that’s one way to crack those hazelnuts

    As mice have such little arms and so much food to store, I have made them a wheelbarrow to make things easier

    As they needed someplace to store food, I built them a little barn from recycled old wood

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The mice are very smart and take initiative, even starting their own small business

    So Mr. Acorn and the mouse thought they could set up a stall and start selling hedgerow wine. Sales have not been very good, the mouse eats more than they sell.

    Today down by the stream, two little mice were making things clean. They were scrubbing and washing the bed sheets and towels

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The little mouse is having a late-night garden picnic on his very own table

    The other mouse has been learning how to play with the sax. She is not very good and my ears are starting to hurt

    The sun is going down and I have just been out to give the mice their last meal for today

    Goodnight

    31Kviews

    Share on Facebook
    Simon Dell

    Simon Dell

    Author, Community member

    Read more »

    Sheffield uk based wildlife photographer and original creator of the garden Mouse village .

    Read less »
    Simon Dell

    Simon Dell

    Author, Community member

    Sheffield uk based wildlife photographer and original creator of the garden Mouse village .

    Ieva Midveryte

    Ieva Midveryte

    Moderator, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    Hello Pandas! My name is Ieva, though it's often mistaken for the word 'Leva,' and in Lithuanian, it means 'loser' (insert the pain emoji). While I don't take offense if you accidentally call me a loser, I thought I'd share something interesting with you, which I also do professionally at work.Anywayyy, my favorite part here is introducing you to creative people who deserve just as much recognition as famous celebrities. Besides that, I also enjoy memes and funny, lighthearted posts, and occasionally, I find myself drawn to a bit of internet drama.

    Read less »

    Ieva Midveryte

    Ieva Midveryte

    Moderator, BoredPanda staff

    Hello Pandas! My name is Ieva, though it's often mistaken for the word 'Leva,' and in Lithuanian, it means 'loser' (insert the pain emoji). While I don't take offense if you accidentally call me a loser, I thought I'd share something interesting with you, which I also do professionally at work.Anywayyy, my favorite part here is introducing you to creative people who deserve just as much recognition as famous celebrities. Besides that, I also enjoy memes and funny, lighthearted posts, and occasionally, I find myself drawn to a bit of internet drama.

    What do you think ?
    Add photo comments
    POST
    Éowyn The Detransitioner
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is the best post I have EVER SEEN, better than anything else on Bored Panda. I would give ANYTHING to be a mouse and like in this tiny village! You're SO TALENTED!!!!

    Louwolfy
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is awesome! your skills are absolutely fantastic!!!

    Leslie Mint
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is so f*****g cute, i showed some of the pics to my mom who is afraid of rats and mice and she asked me to send her a link kskskdj

    Autumn “Lil Bird Nerd” Renee
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Your mice are the luckiest mice in the world I believe it is safe to say. Thank you for the adorable pictures. Like I say very many times when I see anything positive when humans are kind to animals...thank you. Thank you from them (I'm 100%sure they would not argue that thank you!)& thank you from me. I save animals on the sidelines. Mostly waterfowl and birds. So many of my "clients in need" are small...sparrow small. I am so determined to make as many ppl see that everything these tiny creatures do is special, important, and without them...a peice of mother nature would collapse, then the enormous downfall starts. Unfortunately, it started awhile ago and now it is going to be extremely hard to play catch up unless all humans are on the same page. I'm so tired of ppl trying to tell me, "its just a bird", or "it's just a duck". In your case it IS NOT just a mouse. Those I'm sure are your "babies". Or they wouldn't have such a gorgeous home. Thank you for being kind!

    Anspans
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And now I'm off to build my own little mouse village🐁🍄

    Barbara Kayton
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love this so much. It makes me smile and brings me joy on tiny mouse feet!

    TheNewJenBrady
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This little mouse world is just so sweet and cozy looking. Warm fuzzies all around

    L H
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Love it! You are a very talented photographer and miniaturist! I love the attention to detail in everything you make!

    Axel Baer
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This brought back memories of Tales from the riverbank from when I was a kid in the 60s! 😍❤ https://youtu.be/-VTn6VlUXNA

    Marion Friedl
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As cute and funny as this post is, Simon Dell should never mention his location, otherwise neighbours might send him an exterminator because he feeds and probably also breeds wild mice who destroy bumblebee nests and eat the eggs and "baby bumblebees" and cause other damage. And my 15 year old tomcat Thori´d surely love to visit the garden to have the one or the other mouse as snack (although he´s a pure indoor cat), if you fed wild mice in your garden here in Germany you´d have to pay a high fine if neighbours reported you to the police, here it´s not allowed to feed any wild animals in your garden, except for bees/wild bees/bumblebees, butterflies or underweight hedgehogs, or birds with a bird feeder. But if you feed and/or keep wild animals like the non-native raccoons or deer or others you´ll be sentenced.

    Marion Friedl
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Er don´t get me wrong, it´s not so that I´d report any neighbours if they did something similar (okay, I live in a skyscraper anyway, but there´re houses around with only 1 family inside), I only wanted to warn the photographer to be careful what informations he posts online, also on social media and so on.

    Load More Replies...
    Raye West
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those are some spoiled mice you got there. They're living better than me! Great job

    Elizabeth Molloy
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This app s completely insane and absolutely wonderful. More pictures please!!

    _scarlett_
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You are so creative and talented!! I would literally pay you to make something similar in my garden lmao

    Mine Truly
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Are some of them photoshopped? Like the one with the mouse holding the axe? No way a mouse can hold an object like that?

    KelleyHawk
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is the BEST panda post ever!!! (Even though it’s 2024 & I’m only now seeing it)! Definitely have to go over to FB to see more. Thank u for sharing!

    renata moris
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Until the mouses are in your house, then you will not be so happy anymore

    Zelda Fitzgerald
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So cool!! I've been wanting to build a fairy garden for the longest time. I love lil miniature stuff

    Aunt Messy
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not worried about hantavirus, then? Google is your friend. This is the work of someone with WAY too much time on their hands and I predict that the neighbors will end up beating them with sticks for encouraging the little disease vectors to hang around, I would call animal control.

    tara
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ewwwww!!!! Why on earth would you say that after looking at this ADORABLE post?! What is WRONG with you??? "Beating them with sticks" WTF!!! Why are you even looking at this post if you have such a hate on for wild rodents. Perhaps google should be YOUR friend. It is deer mice that primarily carry hanta virus....these aren't deer mice.

    Load More Replies...
    ItsJess
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would not want to encourage mice to live anywhere in my yard unless there was also a feral kitty Kaiju patrolling the teeny village and decimating the population.

    Susanne B
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How brutal you sound. I hate mice in the house, but so long as they stay in the garden they are welcome.

    Load More Replies...
    Éowyn The Detransitioner
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is the best post I have EVER SEEN, better than anything else on Bored Panda. I would give ANYTHING to be a mouse and like in this tiny village! You're SO TALENTED!!!!

    Louwolfy
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is awesome! your skills are absolutely fantastic!!!

    Leslie Mint
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is so f*****g cute, i showed some of the pics to my mom who is afraid of rats and mice and she asked me to send her a link kskskdj

    Autumn “Lil Bird Nerd” Renee
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Your mice are the luckiest mice in the world I believe it is safe to say. Thank you for the adorable pictures. Like I say very many times when I see anything positive when humans are kind to animals...thank you. Thank you from them (I'm 100%sure they would not argue that thank you!)& thank you from me. I save animals on the sidelines. Mostly waterfowl and birds. So many of my "clients in need" are small...sparrow small. I am so determined to make as many ppl see that everything these tiny creatures do is special, important, and without them...a peice of mother nature would collapse, then the enormous downfall starts. Unfortunately, it started awhile ago and now it is going to be extremely hard to play catch up unless all humans are on the same page. I'm so tired of ppl trying to tell me, "its just a bird", or "it's just a duck". In your case it IS NOT just a mouse. Those I'm sure are your "babies". Or they wouldn't have such a gorgeous home. Thank you for being kind!

    Anspans
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And now I'm off to build my own little mouse village🐁🍄

    Barbara Kayton
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love this so much. It makes me smile and brings me joy on tiny mouse feet!

    TheNewJenBrady
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This little mouse world is just so sweet and cozy looking. Warm fuzzies all around

    L H
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Love it! You are a very talented photographer and miniaturist! I love the attention to detail in everything you make!

    Axel Baer
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This brought back memories of Tales from the riverbank from when I was a kid in the 60s! 😍❤ https://youtu.be/-VTn6VlUXNA

    Marion Friedl
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As cute and funny as this post is, Simon Dell should never mention his location, otherwise neighbours might send him an exterminator because he feeds and probably also breeds wild mice who destroy bumblebee nests and eat the eggs and "baby bumblebees" and cause other damage. And my 15 year old tomcat Thori´d surely love to visit the garden to have the one or the other mouse as snack (although he´s a pure indoor cat), if you fed wild mice in your garden here in Germany you´d have to pay a high fine if neighbours reported you to the police, here it´s not allowed to feed any wild animals in your garden, except for bees/wild bees/bumblebees, butterflies or underweight hedgehogs, or birds with a bird feeder. But if you feed and/or keep wild animals like the non-native raccoons or deer or others you´ll be sentenced.

    Marion Friedl
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Er don´t get me wrong, it´s not so that I´d report any neighbours if they did something similar (okay, I live in a skyscraper anyway, but there´re houses around with only 1 family inside), I only wanted to warn the photographer to be careful what informations he posts online, also on social media and so on.

    Load More Replies...
    Raye West
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those are some spoiled mice you got there. They're living better than me! Great job

    Elizabeth Molloy
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This app s completely insane and absolutely wonderful. More pictures please!!

    _scarlett_
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You are so creative and talented!! I would literally pay you to make something similar in my garden lmao

    Mine Truly
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Are some of them photoshopped? Like the one with the mouse holding the axe? No way a mouse can hold an object like that?

    KelleyHawk
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is the BEST panda post ever!!! (Even though it’s 2024 & I’m only now seeing it)! Definitely have to go over to FB to see more. Thank u for sharing!

    renata moris
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Until the mouses are in your house, then you will not be so happy anymore

    Zelda Fitzgerald
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So cool!! I've been wanting to build a fairy garden for the longest time. I love lil miniature stuff

    Aunt Messy
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not worried about hantavirus, then? Google is your friend. This is the work of someone with WAY too much time on their hands and I predict that the neighbors will end up beating them with sticks for encouraging the little disease vectors to hang around, I would call animal control.

    tara
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ewwwww!!!! Why on earth would you say that after looking at this ADORABLE post?! What is WRONG with you??? "Beating them with sticks" WTF!!! Why are you even looking at this post if you have such a hate on for wild rodents. Perhaps google should be YOUR friend. It is deer mice that primarily carry hanta virus....these aren't deer mice.

    Load More Replies...
    ItsJess
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would not want to encourage mice to live anywhere in my yard unless there was also a feral kitty Kaiju patrolling the teeny village and decimating the population.

    Susanne B
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How brutal you sound. I hate mice in the house, but so long as they stay in the garden they are welcome.

    Load More Replies...
    You May Like
    Related on Bored Panda
    Related on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda