Red Squirrel Recovery Network

The Red Squirrel Recovery Network is an ambitious project which works at a super-landscape scale to bring about lasting change for red squirrels, who would be lost in 10 years without continuous and extensive conservation efforts. 

Once common across the UK, red squirrels are now limited to isolated populations in the North of England, Merseyside, Isle of Wight, North Wales and Scotland. 

The project links up partners including Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, Scottish charities Bright Green Nature and Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere partnership, as well as Merseyside-based Knowsley Safari Foundation and the UK Squirrel Accord. 

We're at a critical point for the recovery of red squirrels across the UK. For the first time, the Red Squirrel Recovery Network brings together conservation partners and 50+ volunteer groups to work across the Southern Scotland/Northern England red squirrel range.

Due to grey squirrel only areas now firmly established to the north and south of this area, and grey squirrel incursion occurring regularly, red squirrels in this region are extremely vulnerable to extinction.

What have we achieved so far?

Together with our partners, we have already completed a one-year development phase of the project, gathering and collating vital data upon which the project is built. This has included collecting baseline data across the entire project area on squirrel distribution, grey squirrel management activities, and volunteer demographics. 

This has allowed our red squirrel experts to draw up conservation plans, along with developing the methodology for future large-scale grey squirrel fertility control. Extensive communication and volunteer engagement plans have also been developed to help encourage new volunteers. 

What will the Red Squirrel Recovery Network achieve?

The Red Squirrel Recovery Network is a five-year project which aims to achieve a number of practical benefits for our endangered red squirrels: 

Habitat improvement

We will be planting trees to help support red squirrels.

Grey squirrel fertility control 

The sad truth is that without undertaking grey squirrel control, red squirrels would be extinct in the UK in under 10 years. However, this project will also see us working on developing an effective methodology for the future deployment of grey squirrel fertility control. 

Secure future funding 

We will work with current and new partners to secure a future for reds, and resilient woodlands and forests across the North of England and Southern Scotland – this will include working with partners and landowners to establish new income streams for red squirrel conservation. 

Working together 

Being part of the extensive Red Squirrel Recovery Network will allow us to improve data sharing across the area to build a more coherent picture of the current state of our red squirrel populations and model the likely impact of new game-changing interventions. 

Partners and funders