Hawick, Selkirk and Denholm Red Squirrel Network – One Year Later

…to raise awareness and carry out red squirrel conservation activities to protect and encourage expansion of this special native species to Scotland’s Borders. Bill Ferguson Hawick, Selkirk and Denholm Red Squirrel Network If you live in South Scotland, and are interested in volunteering with your local red squirrel network, you can find out more about how to get involved here…. […]

Read More…

News: Help stop the spread of grey squirrels in the Mearns

…not only threatens the local red squirrel population in the Mearns but it could also jeopardise the project’s success in Aberdeen. The introduction of squirrelpox into North East Scotland could be devastating for the core populations of red squirrels in the north of Scotland. For more information about volunteering with Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels visit scottishsquirrels.org.uk.   VIEW VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES… […]

Read More…

Reviewing the Scottish Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation

…Scottish Squirrel Group have been tasked with drafting an ambitious 50-year vision for red squirrel conservation in Scotland. The revised Strategy will cover a 10-year timeline (2025 – 2035) informed by this vision, and will be developed using the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Guidelines for Species Conservation Planning, the gold standard for species conservation planning which… […]

Read More…

Red squirrels and biosecurity

…in East Anglia in the 1980’s and has gradually moved northwards. Red squirrels, (Sciurus vulgaris) our native species, are under threat from loss of habitat and competition with the larger introduced grey squirrel. Now it has been found that when there is cross-infection with the pox virus from grey squirrel carriers, eradication of the reds can be around 20% faster… […]

Read More…

Celebrating a red squirrel champion

…with next and I can’t wait to work together to make it happen.   There are numerous volunteering opportunities in the South of Scotland and each and every person makes a difference whether helping spread the word through community engagement or undertaking grey squirrel control efforts. Visit our Network Directory to find out more about local volunteer groups near you…. […]

Read More…

Call for Scots to become a nation of squirrel spotters this Red Squirrel Week

…red and grey squirrel sightings or by getting involved with a local volunteer group. Over 5000 squirrel sightings were reported in 2017 but with the launch of their new Hub, SSRS is this year looking to hit the 10,000 target. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Project Manager, Dr Mel Tonkin said: “For Red Squirrel Week, we’re launching a brand new website… […]

Read More…

News: Red letter day – Plean’s first red squirrel entered home through letterbox

…North America. They out-compete native red squirrels for food and living space, and can also carry squirrelpox, a virus that is deadly to reds. They have completely replaced red squirrels in parts of Scotland, including much of Stirlingshire, but targeted control work carried out by Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is preventing them from spreading further and in some places allowing… […]

Read More…

North East towns at the forefront of efforts to save Scotland’s red squirrels

…them completely. Members of the public are being asked to help by reporting any squirrel sightings (red and grey) on the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels website, scottishsquirrels.org.uk. The project is also developing a Mearns Red Squirrel Community Group. Anyone interested in getting involved with red squirrel conservation work across the Mearns area can contact Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels at squirrels@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk…. […]

Read More…

Community Hub

…a Hub account. If you are already a SSRS volunteer, please use the same email address you used when you originally signed up so we can match your personal details.   Volunteer access Already volunteering with us? You can start accessing additional Hub features by joining the SSRS volunteering group (you’ll need to register to create an account first). If… […]

Read More…

This Year's Sightings