Red squirrels are beginning to return to areas of Scotland where they have not been seen for several years, reports Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS), Scotland’s first nationally co-ordinated attempt to save the red squirrel from further decline.
Up to 45 of the project’s key participants with a passion for red squirrel conservation, including landowners and volunteers from across Scotland, gather together today (16 February) to review the progress of SSRS, which includes news of the project’s first signs of success – the return of red squirrels to areas including Cults and Countesswells and Bieldside in Aberdeen City.
Meeting in Battleby, near Perth, the first annual project conference of SSRS is hosted by project partners, Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS), and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA).
Speaking at today’s event, SWT’s Mel Tonkin, the SSRS Project Manager, said: “Since our official project launch only one year ago, we have worked hard for our cause and it’s heartwarming to know that Scotland’s red squirrels and the communities lucky enough to still share the natural world with these amazing creatures are the ones beginning to reap real rewards.
“As the first-ever project to tackle red squirrel conservation on a national scale, SSRS, in partnership with our sister project Red Squirrels in South Scotland (RSSS), co-ordinates work on the ground in key regions to strategically halt the spread of grey squirrels and the squirrelpox virus – the red squirrel’s two biggest threats. Today, we celebrate our success so far.
“In the North-East, thanks to a program of carefully planned grey squirrel control activity, we can report that red squirrels are now being spotted in areas of Aberdeen where they hadn’t been seen for several years. This indicates that grey squirrel control is necessary action which not only protects red squirrels from further decline but allows local populations to return to areas they inhabited before the arrival of the grey squirrel.
“Our successes continue in Tayside where more and more land-owners are committing to help us protect red squirrels by controlling grey squirrel populations on their own land and helping us to monitor its effect on red squirrels locally. The availability of financial assistance through the Scottish Government’s Scottish Rural Development Programme, has really helped us reach out and recruit this help.
“With our project soon to appoint a Project Officer for West Scotland and with our sister project, RSSS, continuing its important work to contain squirrelpox in the South, we now have all the tools in place to give red squirrels the best chance of retaining its place as one of the best-loved icons of Scottish wildlife for many years to come.”
Under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, the red squirrel is one of the first species identified as requiring conservation. Minister for the Environment, Roseanna Cunningham, said: “The red squirrel is one of our most iconic and beautiful species and we must do everything we can to protect it. Since its introduction to the British Isles, the grey squirrel has left red squirrels on the brink of extinction.
The organisations involved with Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels have shown real vision in coming together to save the species. The work carried out over the past year has had some initial success and will hopefully help ensure red squirrels survive in Scotland, one of the few sanctuaries the species has left.”
The organisations involved with Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels have shown real vision in coming together to save the species. The work carried out over the past year has had some initial success and will hopefully help ensure red squirrels survive in Scotland, one of the few sanctuaries the species has left.”
Only 121,000 reds are now thought to remain in Scotland as numbers have rapidly declined due to the presence and spread of the grey squirrel, a species introduced from North America in the 19th Century. The red squirrel is in danger of becoming extinct on mainland Scotland if action is not taken to protect it.
Ron Macdonald, Head of Policy and Advice for SNH explained more about the work of SSRS: “The grey squirrel is a larger, more robust species which was imported from North America. Red and grey squirrels cannot usually co-exist and when both species do inhabit one area the grey squirrel normally out-competes the red for food and habitat. This results in high mortality rates among young red squirrels, and so numbers tend to decline gradually where greys are present.
“As well as controlling grey squirrels to halt their further spread northwards from the central belt, our project will provide advice on woodland management for red squirrels, helping landowners to develop habitats where red squirrels can thrive in the long-term.”
Pledge your support for SSRS or find out more about the project and how you can get involved at www.scottishsquirrels.org.uk.
***Ends***
For further information, please contact:
Nicola McGovern
PR Officer, Scottish Wildlife Trust
Tel: 0131 312 4742
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 (SNH) is the Scottish Government’s statutory advisor on the conservation, enhancement, enjoyment, understanding and sustainable use of the natural heritage. For further information on SNH, please visit 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
• In addition to financial support from the project partners, the SSRS project has received funding from a range of sources including Aberdeen Greenspace, Albert George and Nancy Caroline Youngman Trust, Biffaward, Dulverton Trust, Englefield Charitable Trust, Gannochy Trust, HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust, J & J R Wilson Charitable Trust, Lascelles Charitable Trust, Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER, LEADER Tayside, Martin Connell Charitable Trust, Mitchell Trust, People’s Postcode Lottery, Red Squirrel Survival Trust, Robert O Curle Charitable Trust, the Robertson Trust, SITA Tayside Biodiversity Fund, Talteg Ltd, Tennant Southpark 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 (SNH) is the Scottish Government’s statutory advisor on the conservation, enhancement, enjoyment, understanding and sustainable use of the natural heritage. For further information on SNH, please visit 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
• In addition to financial support from the project partners, the SSRS project has received funding from a range of sources including Aberdeen Greenspace, Albert George and Nancy Caroline Youngman Trust, Biffaward, Dulverton Trust, Englefield Charitable Trust, Gannochy Trust, HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust, J & J R Wilson Charitable Trust, Lascelles Charitable Trust, Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER, LEADER Tayside, Martin Connell Charitable Trust, Mitchell Trust, People’s Postcode Lottery, Red Squirrel Survival Trust, Robert O Curle Charitable Trust, the Robertson Trust, SITA Tayside Biodiversity Fund, Talteg Ltd, Tennant Southpark 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.