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

…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 Communications Group (coming very soon: accessible only to volunteer network admins and sightings verifiers).   What support will be… […]

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VolunteerFAQs

…• 3 elected office bearers – Chair, Secretary, Treasurer or equivalents; and • A bank account in the group’s name (or funds ring-fenced within the bank account of a local Community Initiative); • Or the group is operating under a local community trust, similar organisation, or other independent structure (i.e. as a Community Interest Company). Will my network need to… […]

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

…there must be abundant good tree cover and of a mix of species that are favourable to red squirrels, providing plenty of food and places to drey. We look for species such as scots pine, oak, hazel, chestnuts, larch or others that provide benefits for squirrels, while avoiding areas with primarily sitka spruce as it can only support a low… […]

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

…digest!) the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Species Advocacy Officer, Hazel Forrest , explains how the Framework relates to red squirrels: This is clearly a very ambitious Framework, which, with a bit more attention to detail, has real potential to turn the tide on biodiversity loss in Scotland. Many aspects of the Framework could directly benefit the red squirrel, but to be… […]

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Faces Old and New at Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels

…based in Balloch, Alexandria but works across the whole region. Felix is currently looking for more households to join our trap loan scheme in his region, and for grey control volunteers. Contact: fsanchezbishop@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk     Victoria Chanin: Project Officer for South East Scotland Victoria has been with the project since 2018, starting out as a Spring Survey volunteer, working within… […]

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Notice for Spring Survey volunteers

…in situ. Complete your Tetrad Data Sheets, including your volunteer hours and collected stickies, posting these in the addressed pre-paid envelope provided. If you have been storing bait, you are welcome to use this in your own garden. For any other equipment you have such as cameras and spray bottles, please keep hold of these for now. When Covid-19 restrictions… […]

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Celebrating a red squirrel champion

…of practice! So, a combination of skills acquired ‘on the job’, happened to equip me well for my current role as a volunteer for the cause of red squirrels here. Within the network of networks that is the Red Squirrel Forum for South Scotland, there must be people with many different backgrounds and experience: teachers for all ages, website editors,… […]

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About Us

…which was first introduced from North America by people in the late 1800s. Grey squirrels also carry squirrelpox, a virus that doesn’t harm them but is deadly to reds. With the help of partners, landowners and local volunteers, the project is monitoring squirrel numbers across Scotland, managing the impact of squirrelpox, and helping to combat the spread of grey squirrels… […]

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Studying the life of the urban red squirrel

  Kat Fingland joined SSRS in May 2021 as the new Conservation Officer for South West Scotland. Prior to starting the role, she has spent the past five years researching the red squirrels of Formby, Merseyside, for her PhD at Nottingham Trent University, studying how red squirrels have adapted to live alongside people in urban environments.   Approximately two-thirds of… […]

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This Year's Sightings