…places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are. We are passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy. Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund www.heritagefund.org.uk… […]
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…in key strategic areas. In your area Our partners and funders Developing community action In 2017, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels began a new phase called ‘Developing Community Action’. Alongside vital conservation work, the project focused on engaging with local communities and individuals, inspiring them to take action to protect red squirrels where they live. This phase ended in… […]
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…outlined recommendations from the achievements and learnings of Developing Community Action need to be sustained if red squirrels are to continue to be a part of Scotland’s native wildlife. This work needs to be further embedded in the operations of statutory agencies, local authorities, communities and other stakeholder organisations to form a landscape-wide mosaic of grey squirrel control and monitoring,… […]
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…practices (i.e. cleaning feeders regularly and with disinfectant) for reducing the risk of squirrelpox outbreaks. For the final chapter of my thesis, I aim to collate all of my findings to produce management recommendations for the study site and other red squirrel strongholds, in order to benefit long-term conservation efforts. We need to make sure that we make space for… […]
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…commercial conifers – to red squirrels. The researchers, together with Ulster Wildlife, bring into question red squirrel conservation strategies that focus on the planting of such forests. Scotland’s conifer forests In Scotland, non-native conifer forests are planted for commercial purposes. By the 1930s red squirrel populations were in serious decline in the UK, but the extensive conifer planting that… […]
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…project’s spring surveys in both 2020 and 2021. These annual systematic surveys, which used baited squirrel-hair sampling boxes at over 200 specific locations, provided robust distribution data for both red and grey squirrels that was invaluable for comparing the fortunes of squirrels from year-to-year. Project Manager Dr Mel Tonkin said: “Without the spring survey data, we need the help of… […]
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…to have volunteers able to verify sightings in their areas to help with the task. Some sightings require action, especially grey sightings, as this is useful information for our grey squirrel control officers and volunteers as to where to focus their efforts. Most red sightings can be confirmed straight away, but if there is a comment that it looked sick,… […]
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…through competition for resources. Most worryingly they could also potentially bring the deadly squirrelpox virus, which isn’t currently present in Aberdeenshire, with them. This virus doesn’t harm grey squirrels but it is deadly for reds. It would be devastating for Scotland’s squirrels if squirrelpox is allowed to spread into the north of the country. “There are a number of ways… […]
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…December volunteer announcement, grey squirrel control volunteers can continue their work in the field We ask those looking to return to volunteering, to be proactive in monitoring changing Covid-19 guidelines in your local authority area, by regularly visiting https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/. Prior to commencing any new activities, a Covid-19 Risk Assessment will need to be reviewed. This can be accessed through… […]
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…questions to the panel. We will also have a set of pre-planned questions for each session to ensure no awkward silences! Will I receive CrowdComms training? Yes. Once the programme is finalised our CrowdComms technician will coordinate an online training session for all contributors. They will also provide guidance via email. What will happen to the presentations after the conference?… […]
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