Building a Volunteer Network

…I was able to initiate things very easily by making the Gatehouse Squirrel Group a project under a pre-existing local charity/company with an environmental slant (Gatehouse Development Initiative). I simply presented the GDI committee with a one-page constitution and that was that. This meant I had a Treasurer and a bank account from day one. ” There are two structures… […]

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SSRS Knowledge Fair

SSRS Knowledge Fair: celebrating five years of developing community action   3-4 December 2021 As our ‘Developing Community Action’ phase comes to an end we will be celebrating all the project has achieved alongside our partners, volunteers, landowners and supporters. This virtual Knowledge Fair will also provide an opportunity to learn more about red squirrel conservation work happening across Scotland… […]

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New Conservation Officer calls for the public to help protect red squirrels in the Scottish Borders

…the more sightings we receive the better our understanding will be.” Grey squirrels are a non-native species that was first introduced to Britain in Victorian times, and they are recognised as the main threat to the red squirrel’s future in Scotland. Larger and more robust, they out-compete native reds for resources. In the south of Scotland some grey squirrels also… […]

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Get Involved

…to be truly effective, we need to build a landscape-scale network of trapping in those places. Whether you have a small back garden or a vast estate, you can contribute to a unified effort to prevent the spread of grey squirrels and reduce the risk of squirrelpox outbreaks in your local area. The trap-loan scheme is offered to people living… […]

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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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Community Hub

Welcome to the Community Hub Community action is the key to the long-term survival of Scotland’s red squirrels. The Hub is a space for our supporters and volunteers to keep up to date with the project and connect with like-minded people working to protect local red squirrel populations. Registered users can keep track of their squirrel sightings, and join a… […]

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

…can be reported to us at scottishsquirrels.org.uk.” Since 2009, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels has been working in the North East of Scotland to eradicate an ‘island’ population of grey squirrels, which was introduced in the 1970s and is isolated from the rest of the Scottish population. Once widespread in Aberdeenshire along the rivers Dee and Don, this population of grey… […]

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

…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… […]

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

…website, scottishsquirrels.org.uk. The data helps the project monitor population changes over time and decide where to focus conservation efforts. Mary-Anne added: “It’s incredibly exciting that red squirrels appear to be making a comeback in Plean and other parts of Stirlingshire, but we’d like to see more evidence. Everyone can help by keeping an eye out and reporting their sightings online.”… […]

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Celebrating a red squirrel champion

…to ten camera traps. This game-changing grant will make monitoring surveys more robust, grey squirrel control more effective and public engagement activities even more captivating, right across South Scotland. These initiatives by Peter at Forum level already go some way towards ensuring that community-led squirrel conservation work will continue uninterrupted beyond the end of the current phase of the SSRS… […]

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This Year's Sightings