‘Don’t Be Shy’ is a new campaign to protect and conserve the United Kingdom’s much-loved red squirrel, and the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership will be leading a programme of local recording and conservation initiatives in South and East Ayrshire within the UNESCO Biosphere region.
The Red Squirrel Recovery Network (RSRN) project, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, seeks to raise awareness, encourage community involvement and promote conservation efforts for this iconic British species in areas where they still exist.
Red squirrels are one of the High Focus species of the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere – species identified as under critical threat in this region. Numbers plummeted across the UK over the past century because of loss of habitat and the introduction of grey squirrels by the Victorians. As well as competition for food and space, grey squirrels carry a pox which infects and kills reds. It’s a horrible death for one of our favourite creatures.
‘Don’t Be Shy’ reflects the red squirrel’s naturally cautious nature, whilst also inviting the public to actively participate in conservation efforts in the few places where they still thrive which include pockets of Northumberland, Cumbria, Merseyside and Scotland. The campaign will support community events, improve red squirrel habitat and engage people across the project area in red squirrel protection.
Antoine Lemaire, Nature Recovery Officer for the GSA UNESCO Biosphere, said: “This is an exciting collaboration that draws in expertise from a wide range of organisations and dispenses with the geographical boundaries that have impeded red squirrel conservation in the past. Within the UNESCO region our work will focus on southern Ayrshire, and we’ll be particularly aiming to build a local database of red squirrel populations – we know they’re out there, but until now there has been no such mapping for this area. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for local people to get involved as our learning workshops and monitoring activity will be run in and around the Biosphere’s rural communities. Training and volunteering will be a new way to spend time outdoors in some incredible native habitats and we’re aiming for this to be a rewarding and inspiring experience for local people of all ages.”
‘Who Goes There?’ is the first workshop hosted by the GSA Biosphere Partnership and will take place on Saturday 1st November in Pinwherry, with a guided walk in Daljarrock Forest looking for red squirrel and other wildlife feeding signs, scat, footprints, sounds and hair, followed by an indoor session at the Auld School Community Centre. This event is open now for bookings (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/who-goes-there-tickets-1784644141669) and more local workshops will follow in the coming months.
By educating the public and fostering community involvement, ‘Don’t Be Shy’ aims to create a network of citizen conservationists across the country. The campaign addresses critical threats to red squirrels, including habitat loss, competition from grey squirrels, and disease. Members of the public are encouraged to participate by reporting squirrel sightings, volunteering for conservation projects, and spreading awareness through social media.
The Red Squirrel Recovery Network involves Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, Scottish charities Bright Green Nature, Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership and Restoring Upland Nature, as well as Merseyside-based Knowsley Safari Foundation and the UK Squirrel Accord. Over the past 12 months, the Partnership Team worked tirelessly to plan audience engagement and activity programmes and write an extensive conservation plan, as well as developing the methodology for large scale grey squirrel fertility control.
In addition, team members collected data across the project areas on squirrel presence/absence, grey squirrel management activity and volunteer demographics to establish the current range of volunteers as well as identifying opportunities to encourage new volunteers.
All this has been made possible with £4.86 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Helen Featherstone, Director for England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Catching a glimpse of a red squirrel in the wild is a magical experience. We are delighted to be supporting the Red Squirrel Recovery Network to work towards this becoming integrated within our natural heritage spaces.
“It is wonderful news that thanks to National Lottery players, the Red Squirrel Recovery Network can continue their collaborative approach to protect our native red squirrels and give the species the best chance of survival.”
More information about the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership is available at www.gsabiosphere.org.uk. For details of volunteering opportunities with the Red Squirrel Recovery Network or to submit information about local red squirrel populations, please contact [email protected].
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