For the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels team the health, safety and wellbeing of our volunteers, staff and the public is our highest priority as we follow the latest guidance from the Scottish Government in transitioning out of lockdown. We have issued the following information for SSRS volunteers in light of the most recent easing of restrictions. Recognising that… […]
…their seeds. This is the perfect time of year for planting trees. Trees are dormant in winter and will have time to establish their roots slowly at this time of year. This gives them the best chance to grow when warmer weather comes along in Spring. Trees provide us with so much; dappled shade on hot summer days, shelter in… […]
…stop. You will not be covered by the Trust’s insurance policy while the suspension is in place, and will not be provided with additional materials. Volunteer expenses cannot be claimed for work carried out during this period. Survey volunteers Please do not travel to your feeder boxes while the suspension is in place. Grey squirrel control volunteers (including both… […]
…Seddon SSPCA Rusty at his bright-eyed and bushy-tailed best! This is taken in the outdoor pen where Rusty had lots of room to climb, build strength and get used to the outdoor environment. He also had other red squirrels for company. Natural features in the pen help the squirrels build strength and prepares them for life in the forest. Photo:… […]
…the North East have increased, while remaining stable elsewhere in the country. Bob Coyle The reason for the recent increase in grey squirrel sightings in Aberdeenshire is unclear but may be due to young grey squirrels from this year’s breeding season spreading out to look for new habitat. Dr Gwen Maggs, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Conservation Officer for North East… […]
…Reserve said: “We have a real opportunity to turn the tide and help conserve our red squirrels, but this is only possible with everyone’s involvement. There is a big task ahead of us and I am looking forward to working alongside the rest of the team in helping the red squirrel thrive in the Scottish Borders.” SSRS is a partnership… […]
…Scottish Borders, helping to bring them all together under the banner of the Red Squirrel Forum for South Scotland. Brian’s gamekeeping background gave him the knowledge and skills needed to make a real difference on the ground when it came to grey squirrel control, experience he happily shared with others and which he used to build strong relationships with local… […]
For Volunteers’ Week, David Miller, Chair of the East Wigtownshire Red Squirrel Group reflects on the group’s experiences one year after its formation. Established in 2019, the aim of the group is to protect the red squirrels of the River Cree catchment and the Machars Peninsula. Although red squirrels are still thriving in the area, they are coming under… […]
…trapping. A predominantly coniferous forest, Heathhall is not ideal habitat for grey squirrels, and many locals were surprised to hear that there were any grey squirrels at all in the forest. However, greys are known to routinely pass through, visiting feeder boxes as they go, as we’ve had several sightings of greys from the forest reported by members of the… […]
…squirrelly competition for seven million years. This evolutionary difference is essentially why the grey squirrels are currently such a great threat to the existence of red squirrels in Britain and Ireland. For seven million years, Eurasian red squirrels evolved with no close ecological competition: there are few tree-dwelling, nut- and seed-eating mammals in temperate Eurasia. Without true competition, the red… […]
