Celebrating a red squirrel champion

…Group. In his role as Chair, Peter is responsible for coordinating all volunteer efforts undertaken by the group, from surveys to targeted grey squirrel control. These efforts have been fundamental to the protection of local red squirrels from continuous incursions by the non-native grey squirrel and the effect of squirrelpox, the lethal virus that greys carry. The group is working… […]

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Coronavirus: all SSRS outdoor volunteer work suspended

…or Conservation Officer. With the potential loss of spring survey data, squirrel sightings will be more important than ever. So if you are outside to exercise and you happen to see a red or grey squirrel, you can still help by reporting it online. Thank you for all the incredible work you are doing to protect Scotland’s red squirrels.  … […]

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To feed or not to feed?

Original Author: Alexa Seagrave   We often get asked about feeding red squirrels, and the very best thing you can do is make your garden as wildlife friendly as possible.   Planting native shrubs and small trees for berries and nuts will provide the best natural food for free and give the best nutrition. So get out there and plant… […]

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Join the Hub

…to protect local red squirrel populations. Registered users can keep track of their squirrel sightings, and join a local red squirrel network to connect with others in your area. Once you have become a Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels volunteer you’ll also be able to use the Hub to access training resources and materials and submit and view your data online…. […]

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Community action in Galloway

…how widespread grey squirrels had become. For the previous 25 years, my wife and I had been living on the edge of a Scots pine forest near Hexham in Northumberland, where for a long period we had plenty of reds visiting our garden. We even organised aerial ropeways to feeders on our window frames, giving us even closer views! Then… […]

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

…South Scotland became independent, retaining use of the SSRS Community Hub and other resources. We catch up with Bill Ferguson from the Hawick, Selkirk and Denholm network to hear how they have been getting on. Since becoming an independent group in April 2022, HSD Red Squirrel Network has been led by our 5 dedicated committee members: the Chair, Treasurer, Secretary,… […]

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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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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… […]

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Knowledge Fair – celebrating five years of community action

…South Scotland – Sarah Cooper, South East Community Engagement Officer Session Q&A   Session 2: Around the UK Holding the Red Line in Northern England – Heinz Traut, Red Squirrels Northern England Northern Ireland update – Katy Bell, Ulster Wildlife Trust Red squirrel reintroductions in the north of Scotland – Alan McDonnell, Trees for Life Session Q&A   Session 3:… […]

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This Year's Sightings