The Red Squirrel is our only native British Squirrel. Sadly, it is estimated that unless positive action is taken now this vulnerable species could become extinct from mainland England in as little as fifteen years. In the North West, the red squirrel is already absent from most of Lancashire and is also threatened in Cumbria and Merseyside. The main cause of this decline is competition with the American grey squirrel, which was introduced to Britain in 1876. The grey squirrel is larger than the red and better able to survive harsh weather and periods of food shortage. It also breeds more successfully and quickly out-competes its red cousin for food.

Donations are forwarded to the Save Our Squirrels project in Cumbria and are helping to provide:

• work with public and private landowners to implement and maintain red squirrel conservation regimes in 6 designated red squirrel reserves and their 5km buffer zones in Cumbria and North Yorkshire.
• support networks of volunteers and contractors in grey squirrel control in these reserves and their 5km buffer zones.
• training sessions on red squirrel monitoring to build up a network of volunteers and contractors to carry out population surveys in reserves.
• produce new signs and interpretation panels for reserves.
• the distribution of ‘Welcome to Red Squirrel Country’ signs to tourism related local businesses.
• a programme of education for schools and develop web based teacher materials.
• money to establish a champion school near to some of the reserves.
• walks and talks for the wider community.
• the attendance of rangers at shows and fairs to engage the general public.
• a new website.
• press, TV, radio and media hits to raise the profile of red squirrel.