Grey squirrel control to be stepped up to boost red squirrels
16th October 2009
The Red Squirrel Survival Trust (RSST), Natural England and the Forestry Commission have launched two important joint initiatives with that will help red squirrels fight back in northern England.
Map of squirrel control
The first initiative is a study to map grey squirrel control efforts in the north of England. It will take into account work undertaken by landowners, institutions, volunteers and local groups. An independent review, recently published by Natural England, highlighted a need for greater understanding of existing grey squirrel control work across the current range of initiatives and local groups.
The mapping exercise will address this by acknowledging and mapping grey squirrel control work, and will serve as a platform for building a co-ordinated future strategy for red squirrel conservation. This project is due to be completed early in the New Year.
The second initiative is the creation of a £40,000 grey squirrel control fund to pay for locally led trapping projects in northern England. Grants will be made to local initiatives that aim to safeguard nationally and regionally important red squirrel populations.
A particular focus is being placed on the area running along the English border with Scotland, the North Lakes in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Merseyside. Organisations working in the relevant areas are encouraged to apply to the Red Squirrel Survival Trust (RSST) for funding to assist them in tackling the threat from greys.
Red squirrels spreading?
These initiatives come at a time when the red squirrel is showing tentative signs of a fightback. RSST and Save our Squirrels (who hold the sightings database for northern England) have over the past year received reports of red squirrel sightings in parts of Cumbria, Northumberland and Merseyside in areas where the reds had previously died out.
Joshua Perry, RSST Director, said: "One big obstacle to red squirrel conservation in England is the lack of information about current grey squirrel control efforts. It is also clear to us that local groups and volunteers have for many years underpinned red squirrel conservation. By mapping everyone's effort and providing funds for new projects we are laying the foundations of a future red squirrel strategy for northern England.
"In this we are delighted to be working closely together with the Forestry Commission and Natural England. This shows that institutions, charities, volunteers and landowners can all work together to protect our reds."
Map of squirrel control
The first initiative is a study to map grey squirrel control efforts in the north of England. It will take into account work undertaken by landowners, institutions, volunteers and local groups. An independent review, recently published by Natural England, highlighted a need for greater understanding of existing grey squirrel control work across the current range of initiatives and local groups.
The mapping exercise will address this by acknowledging and mapping grey squirrel control work, and will serve as a platform for building a co-ordinated future strategy for red squirrel conservation. This project is due to be completed early in the New Year.
The second initiative is the creation of a £40,000 grey squirrel control fund to pay for locally led trapping projects in northern England. Grants will be made to local initiatives that aim to safeguard nationally and regionally important red squirrel populations.
A particular focus is being placed on the area running along the English border with Scotland, the North Lakes in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Merseyside. Organisations working in the relevant areas are encouraged to apply to the Red Squirrel Survival Trust (RSST) for funding to assist them in tackling the threat from greys.
Red squirrels spreading?
These initiatives come at a time when the red squirrel is showing tentative signs of a fightback. RSST and Save our Squirrels (who hold the sightings database for northern England) have over the past year received reports of red squirrel sightings in parts of Cumbria, Northumberland and Merseyside in areas where the reds had previously died out.
Joshua Perry, RSST Director, said: "One big obstacle to red squirrel conservation in England is the lack of information about current grey squirrel control efforts. It is also clear to us that local groups and volunteers have for many years underpinned red squirrel conservation. By mapping everyone's effort and providing funds for new projects we are laying the foundations of a future red squirrel strategy for northern England.
"In this we are delighted to be working closely together with the Forestry Commission and Natural England. This shows that institutions, charities, volunteers and landowners can all work together to protect our reds."
