A red squirrel conservation project has been hailed as a success- one year on
A scheme to trap grey squirrels in Grizedale Forest is entering it's second year. The aim is to reclaim the area as a habitat for the native red species.
Sightings of red squirrels are now being reported in parts of Cumbria where they have not been seen for decades.
Ryan Dollard reports:
Mike Thornley is a Red Squirrel Officer, he said:
"Trapping grey squirrels and taking them out of habitats is the only way to give red squirrels a future.
"The species cannot co-exist and if we don't clear habitats for them then our native squirrels will die out."
The project is hoping to map red and grey squirrel populations over the coming years by putting up feeding stations linked to automatic cameras.
The data will help assess how effectively the conservation scheme is working.
A red squirrel conservation project has been hailed as a success- one year on.
The Westmorland Red Squirrel Society's 'Grizedale Red Squirrels' have reported that the red squirrels are boasting healthy populations in and around Grizedale Forest, and they are beginning to spread further afield.
A joint effort between the Forestry Commission, Lake District National Park, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, National Trust, Red Squirrels Northern England, Red Squirrel Survival Trust and landowners, hase ensured that the population of red squirrels is not allowed to dwindle.
A grant of almost £50,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund has aso helped with the control of the greys to reduce their threat to the protection and growth of the red species.
– Jackie Foott, the Project Co-ordinator"We have been immensely encouraged by the number of red squirrels sighted in the Grizedale area and also by the positive response from everybody involved.
"This is a wonderful example of 'community energy' creating a powerful network to benefit a local wildlife species which was desperately in need of help."