Over the last 150 years, England’s red squirrel populations have significantly declined, but now, a new action plan is being launched today (Saturday).
On Red Squirrel Appreciation Day (21st January 2023), the UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA) launches a new action plan to help protect and enhance England’s endangered red squirrels.
This will make a positive contribution to the dedicated conservation efforts already taking place and compliment the red squirrel action plan or strategies underway in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The England Red Squirrel Action Plan (ERSAP) 2023-2028 has 4 key aims:
- Protect, identify and strengthen red squirrel populations across the current range
- Expand the current range of red squirrels
- Support and improve collaborative action at all levels
- Promote better understanding and support for red squirrel conservation across England
Delivering the actions needed at the scale required to achieve these goals is a complex and significant challenge. The ERSAP provides a framework of strategic actions to underpin and guide red squirrel conservation and recovery in England.
Successful delivery of the plan will depend on strong collaboration between stakeholders at local and national levels, including community groups, conservation organisations and government agencies. Effective communications that raise awareness of and engagement in red squirrel conservation are also vital. A new stakeholder group is being set up to start delivering the actions.
The plan will be reviewed and updated in five years. During this time UKSA will work with various stakeholders to achieve an increase in red squirrel range and time spent conserving red squirrels. The government, alongside the Forestry Commission and Natural England, has worked with others in the UKSA partnership to develop the action plan and will support its implementation through actions such as habitat creation to protect the long-term future of this iconic species.
Kay Haw, Director of the UK Squirrel Accord, said
“Red squirrels are an important part of England’s natural heritage. Working together we can ensure they have a positive future by mitigating the tragic declines in their numbers. While human actions endangered these much-loved mammals, it is also human actions that can reverse their fate.
“It is only thanks to the fantastic efforts of all those involved in red squirrel conservation that we still see them on the English mainland today. The new England Red Squirrel Action Plan aims to build on this valuable work and ensure our only native squirrel survives for future generations.”
Lord Kinnoull DL, Chair of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, said
“We must halt the loss of biodiversity we are sadly witnessing in England. As well as bringing much joy to people’s lives, red squirrels are integral to our woodland ecosystems and support the natural regeneration of our woods.
We encourage everyone to support it, to get involved however you can and spread the message far and wide. We all look forward to a day when our woods turn red again with these beautiful creatures.”
For further information contact Kay Kaw ([email protected]) or see our website www.squirrelaccord.uk or contact [email protected]
Don’t worry, the council is doing a lot to protect red squirrels by approving loads of barratts homes new builds to destroy some greenfields, profits for the developers matter more than anything else of course.
Splendid little fellows. Our garden is a haven for them. I suggest less building on the Island would be the most effective method of ensuring their survival here.
One concern I have is all these large birds of prey upon our reds survival.
It is fortunate that the Isle is blessed by not having imported any of those ugly brute, destructive types of greys.
Another good reason for not installing a fixed link here.
Interestingly, areas where pine martens have been re-introduces have seen a resurgence in red squirrels.
It seems the martens have a preference for grays. They are slower and less agile than the reds and their smaller size means they can escape to branches that cannot carry the martens weight.