Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels: the next steps in South Scotland

…will the Red Squirrel Forum for South Scotland be able to offer independent groups? The Red Squirrel Forum for South Scotland acts as an umbrella organisation for volunteers in all 17 independent groups in the south of Scotland. Their role is primarily to assist with cross collaboration between the groups, and put groups in touch with one another to share… […]

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VolunteerFAQs

…primarily to assist with cross collaboration between the groups, and put groups in touch with one another to share skills, experiences, and advice. Examples include help with bank accounts, running of and materials for events and engagement activities, and assistance with fundraising. Please refer to the Forum ‘Offers and Needs’ chart in the first instance, available on the Hub Volunteer… […]

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Q&A with Sarah Woodfin, Project Manager with Trees for Life’s Red Squirrel Reintroduction Project

…work would not be possible without the assistance of landowners, who are often extremely keen to get red squirrels returned to their land. Firstly, the proposed reintroduction area must be assessed for suitability of red squirrels, such as forest cover, species and connectivity. Stakeholders and the wider community are consulted as much as possible and are often involved in monitoring… […]

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North East Volunteer Spotlight: Celebrating our volunteer Janice Drew as she moves on to pastures new!

…team need to be “everywhere at once”! In order to achieve this, over the last two and a half years we have recruited around 60 volunteers, who take part in our “Rapid Response Monitoring”, which are fortnightly feeder surveys all over Aberdeen city, and in the south of the region (to prevent immigration from Angus). This amounts to roughly 27… […]

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Speaking up for Red Squirrels in the Consultation on Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity

to the risk to young trees from bark stripping, and the potential for newly created woodland habitats to enhance the ability of the grey squirrel population to expand into new areas. To support the key action “Ensure that forests and woodlands deliver increased biodiversity…” I would like to see grey squirrel control and monitoring recognised as a fundamental component of… […]

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Scotland’s Red Squirrels

…Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 provides for duty of care for animals in captivity (live-trapped animals). This makes it an offence to inflict, or allow others to inflict, cruelty or abuse on a grey squirrel held captive. The Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) makes it illegal to release, or allow to escape to the wild, any captive grey squirrel…. […]

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Celebrating a red squirrel champion

…has chaired three region-wide online meetings with almost all the squirrel groups represented. At its inception, the Forum was seen as a vehicle for obtaining grant-funding at scale and for the good of all. This summer Peter spearheaded a successful application to the Red Squirrel Survival Trust to equip any group lacking them with a thermal imaging scope and up… […]

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Notice for Spring Survey volunteers

…be donated to a nearby Volunteer Group or you are welcome to use this in your own garden. South East Scotland Guidance and instructions for remaining Spring Survey equipment and supplies will be issued shortly.   If traveling to feeder box locations please adhere to Government guidelines and visit https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/ for the latest information on restrictions in your local area…. […]

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News: Over £1M in new funding awarded to aid red squirrel recovery in Scotland

…Our hopes and aims for next phase are ambitious, but ones that we absolutely can realise with increased landscape-scale investment from partners, stakeholders, landowners, and local community involvement. We are incredibly grateful to everyone already involved in red squirrel conservation across the country and look forward to bringing more people and organisations onboard with this important and vital work.” Dr… […]

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This Year's Sightings