Scotland’s Red Squirrels

…pine forests of the Highlands.   Under threat Red squirrel populations have seriously declined, with only around 120,000 remaining in Scotland today. In some places they have not been seen for many years. The greatest threat to the red squirrel’s future in Scotland is the invasive non-native grey squirrel. Larger and more robust, grey squirrels out-compete red squirrels for food… […]

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

…can move and adapt. 30 by 30 – the plan to increase the area of land that is protected or managed for nature to 30% by 2030. Nature Targets – the plan to set legal targets for nature that the government has to meet. National Parks – the plan to designate at least one new National Park in Scotland by… […]

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

…Wildlife Trust volunteer sign-up processes. Please email squirrels@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk. Please note SSRS will no longer be able to provide any of the financial support that was available during the Developing Community Action and Transition phases. Fundraising guidance and support is available via the Resources page on the Hub, and through the Forum via the ‘Offers and Needs’ chart.   Will SSRS… […]

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VolunteerFAQs

…ambitious aim of the 5-Year ‘Developing Community Action’ phase and the 2-year ‘Transition’ phase was to set up and equip a network of volunteer groups in South Scotland capable of independently taking forward red squirrel conservation in the region, with the help of some central SSRS co-ordination. We have been amazed at the success of the 17 volunteer red squirrel… […]

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News: Report details red squirrel conservation successes, with key recommendations for the iconic species’ long-term future in Scotland.

the national strategy for red squirrel conservation in Scotland, based on the findings of the report and success of the SSRS programme to date. Full details of the successes of the project are outlined in the report. Key highlights of the Scottish public’s contributions to red squirrel conservation include: By the end of the DCA phase 18 volunteer led groups… […]

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

…squirrels were still absent from much of their former range across the north-western highlands. Trees for Life aims to create 14 new reintroduced populations of red squirrels in the area, with 10 of these already carried out and doing well. It is aimed that by the end of the project, all possible suitable sites for reintroductions will have had red… […]

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Faces Old and New at Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels

…team and she also works closely with the Tayside Conservation Officer and Grey Squirrel Officers. Contact: ymcmurchie @scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk     Katie Berry: Communications & Engagement Officer Katie began her squirrel journey as the SSRS Administrator, joining the team in March 2020, just before the first covid-19 lockdown. In November 2022 she became the Communications & Engagement Officer for the team,… […]

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News: Record participation in national squirrel survey

…Scotland continues to provide a home for the bulk of the country’s red squirrels, which still occurs as the sole species of squirrel over highland Scotland. Happily, the sightings also show that the native species still occupies a large area in the south of Scotland, although here they share the landscape with grey squirrels. The largest concentration of squirrel reports… […]

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Community Hub FAQs

the group map show sightings from the current year? Yes, your group’s map shows sightings from the current year (starting in January), and you can filter for the years with the dropdown above the map. On the other hand, the map on the public SSRS homepage shows national sightings from the previous 12 months. What does the map Layers button… […]

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Celebrating a red squirrel champion

…In 2018 Peter was asked by SSRS to found the Red Squirrel Forum for South Scotland as the umbrella organisation run by volunteers for all the volunteers in the squirrel groups and networks (now 18 with around 350 members) in South Scotland. The Forum acts as a bridge with other red squirrel organisations in the UK, helping to keep the […]

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This Year's Sightings