Red squirrels in parts of western Scotland, including declining populations within Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, are now set to receive further protection as efforts to conserve Scotland’s only native squirrel species in the area are consolidated.
Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS), is the first nationally co-ordinated partnership project, led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), which aims to halt the decline of red squirrels by working strategically across the whole of Scotland. Today (17 March) the partnership announced the appointment of a new leader to drive forward project work across Argyll and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. SSRS is a partnership project between Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA).
Lewis Pate, the new SSRS Project Officer, said he hopes to lead a co-ordinated and strategic programme of grey squirrel control and habitat management which will deliver real protection for red squirrels, but that his success hinges on achieving help and support from the public.
Pate explained: “I am calling on members of the public to get involved. We need everyone to keep their eyes open for both grey and red squirrels and report their sightings to www.scottishsquirrelsurvey.co.uk. We are also looking for interested and responsible members of the public to participate in surveys and other practical work.
“These activities are an essential part of our bid to address the decline of red squirrels across the area and safeguard surrounding healthy populations in the north of the country and those of Argyll and the Cowal peninsula. I am particularly keen to hear from members of the public living in the Arrochar, Tarbet, Callander, Lochearnhead, St. Fillans and Aberfoyle areas but all interested people should contact me if they wish to contribute to this vital work.
“Argyll is lucky to still have strong red squirrel populations, but in parts of Stirling the red squirrel has already disappeared following the arrival of grey squirrels. Within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park there are still thriving populations of red squirrels, but these are increasingly under threat as grey squirrels, a non-native species brought to Scotland by the Victorians, continue to spread northwards from Glasgow and westwards from the city of Stirling area.
“We need to act now to prevent the further spread of grey squirrels. Thankfully, geography is on our side. To spread further, grey squirrels must travel through narrow corridors of woodland habitat between treeless upland areas, and it is here where we hope to focus our strategic efforts to control them.
“To ensure red squirrels remain an iconic part of local wildlife, we must act now to protect them. Please get in touch and get involved with our project today.”
Pate’s appointment, as part of the SSRS project, acts as a continuation of efforts undertaken by the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Red squirrels are identified as a priority species in the National Park Biodiversity Action Plan launched in 2009. SSRS will be working in close partnership with the Park Authority, which is contributing funding to SSRS's operation in the west.
Mel Tonkin, SSRS Project Manager explained: “Whilst habitat loss and fragmentation contributes to red squirrel decline, the presence of grey squirrels is the ultimate cause of the disappearance of the red squirrel. With greys out-competing reds for food and habitat the two can rarely coexist for long and grey squirrel presence tends to result in red squirrel numbers declining to the point of extinction, which sadly has already happened across large parts of central Scotland.
“This project will work towards improving woodlands across Scotland in order to help red squirrels thrive, but habitat management alone is not enough in the short-term. Our project must undertake targeted grey squirrel control to halt the spread of grey squirrels and allow red squirrel populations to recover and expand. In Argyll and the Trossachs area, if we allow grey squirrels to continue to spread, we will not only risk losing strong red squirrel populations in the region but we will also jeopardise the existence of red squirrels across the whole of northern and western Scotland.
“Elsewhere in Scotland we will be working to halt the spread of grey squirrels from the Central Belt through targeted control across Tayside and in Aberdeenshire to contain grey squirrels within Aberdeen city to protect the rest of Grampian and the Highlands. Meanwhile our sister project, Red Squirrels in South Scotland (RSSS), will work to stem the spread of squirrelpox, a disease fatal to reds but harmless to grey squirrels which carry the virus and spread it to red squirrels.”
For more information about SSRS in west Scotland please contact the Project on 0131 312 7765 or email Lewis Pate, SSRS Project Officer at squirrelslochlomond@swt.org.uk
***Ends***
For more information, please contact:
Nicola McGovern
PR Officer, Scottish Wildlife Trust
Tel: 0131 312 4742
Nicola McGovern
PR Officer, Scottish Wildlife Trust
Tel: 0131 312 4742
Notes to Editors
• Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels aims to stop the decline of red squirrel populations in key areas of Scotland north of the Central Belt and to improve conditions for viable red squirrel populations across Scotland. It is a partnership project between the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association. It is part of Scotland's Species Action Framework, which sets out a strategic approach to species management in Scotland. For more information, visit www.swt.org.uk.
• The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) is a registered charity. It is the largest voluntary body working for all the wildlife of Scotland, representing more than 34,000 members who care for wildlife and the environment. SWT seeks to raise public awareness of threatened habitats and species and manages over 120 wildlife reserves Scotland-wide. www.swt.org.uk
• Scottish Natural Heritage is the Government’s adviser on all aspects of nature and landscape across Scotland. Our role is to help everyone understand, value and enjoy Scotland’s nature now and in the future. For further information on SNH, please visit our website at www.snh.org.uk. SNH is a funding partner of the project.
• Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) serves as the forestry directorate of the Scottish Government, advising on and implementing forestry policy and managing the national forest estate. FCS is ensuring that the national forest estate plays its part in delivering the aims of project Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels.
• The Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA) is the leading representative body for all land and rural property owners and land-based businesses in Scotland. It is a membership organisation comprising rural entrepreneurs, individuals and businesses that operate in rural Scotland. www.srpba.com
• Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park has three core activities. Conservation, Visitor Experience and Rural Development. The red squirrel was identified as a priority species in the National Park Biodiversity Action Plan, a policy document that sets out a vision for the next 20 years and includes a three-year work programme to improve key habitats on which many of the most iconic and important species depend. Other priority species include water vole, black grouse and capercaillie. For more information visit http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/looking-after/national-park-biodiversity-action-plan/menu-id-381.html
• In addition to financial support from the project partners, the SSRS project has received funding from a range of sources including the Albert George and Nancy Caroline Youngman Trust, Dulverton Trust, Englefield Charitable Trust, HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust, Lascelles Charitable Trust, Martin Connell Charitable Trust, Mitchell Trust, People’s Postcode Lottery, Robert O Curle Charitable Trust, Talteg Ltd and the Tennant Southpark Charitable Trust.
• The work of SSRS in the West of Scotland has been specifically funded by the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority, J & J R Wilson Charitable Trust and the Susan H Guy Charitable Trust.
• Red Squirrels in South Scotland Project (RSSS) is the sister project to SSRS working to stem the spread of pox carrying grey squirrels in south Scotland for the protection of red squirrels. Squirrelpox is a virus fatal to red squirrels but harmless to the grey squirrels which carry and spread it. Grey squirrels migrating north from Cumbria are bringing squirrelpox to Scotland. The work of RSSS is therefore essential to Scotland’s red squirrel population as a whole and to maintain southern Scotland as a stronghold for our native red. RSSS has been conducting and promoting grey squirrel control since 2000. www.redsquirrels.org.uk.
• Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels aims to stop the decline of red squirrel populations in key areas of Scotland north of the Central Belt and to improve conditions for viable red squirrel populations across Scotland. It is a partnership project between the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association. It is part of Scotland's Species Action Framework, which sets out a strategic approach to species management in Scotland. For more information, visit www.swt.org.uk.
• The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) is a registered charity. It is the largest voluntary body working for all the wildlife of Scotland, representing more than 34,000 members who care for wildlife and the environment. SWT seeks to raise public awareness of threatened habitats and species and manages over 120 wildlife reserves Scotland-wide. www.swt.org.uk
• Scottish Natural Heritage is the Government’s adviser on all aspects of nature and landscape across Scotland. Our role is to help everyone understand, value and enjoy Scotland’s nature now and in the future. For further information on SNH, please visit our website at www.snh.org.uk. SNH is a funding partner of the project.
• Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) serves as the forestry directorate of the Scottish Government, advising on and implementing forestry policy and managing the national forest estate. FCS is ensuring that the national forest estate plays its part in delivering the aims of project Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels.
• The Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA) is the leading representative body for all land and rural property owners and land-based businesses in Scotland. It is a membership organisation comprising rural entrepreneurs, individuals and businesses that operate in rural Scotland. www.srpba.com
• Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park has three core activities. Conservation, Visitor Experience and Rural Development. The red squirrel was identified as a priority species in the National Park Biodiversity Action Plan, a policy document that sets out a vision for the next 20 years and includes a three-year work programme to improve key habitats on which many of the most iconic and important species depend. Other priority species include water vole, black grouse and capercaillie. For more information visit http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/looking-after/national-park-biodiversity-action-plan/menu-id-381.html
• In addition to financial support from the project partners, the SSRS project has received funding from a range of sources including the Albert George and Nancy Caroline Youngman Trust, Dulverton Trust, Englefield Charitable Trust, HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust, Lascelles Charitable Trust, Martin Connell Charitable Trust, Mitchell Trust, People’s Postcode Lottery, Robert O Curle Charitable Trust, Talteg Ltd and the Tennant Southpark Charitable Trust.
• The work of SSRS in the West of Scotland has been specifically funded by the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority, J & J R Wilson Charitable Trust and the Susan H Guy Charitable Trust.
• Red Squirrels in South Scotland Project (RSSS) is the sister project to SSRS working to stem the spread of pox carrying grey squirrels in south Scotland for the protection of red squirrels. Squirrelpox is a virus fatal to red squirrels but harmless to the grey squirrels which carry and spread it. Grey squirrels migrating north from Cumbria are bringing squirrelpox to Scotland. The work of RSSS is therefore essential to Scotland’s red squirrel population as a whole and to maintain southern Scotland as a stronghold for our native red. RSSS has been conducting and promoting grey squirrel control since 2000. www.redsquirrels.org.uk.