Red Squirrel Awareness Week (21st to 27th September 2020) is held every year to highlight the plight of one of our most iconic British mammals.
Once a common sight throughout the UK, the red squirrel population has rapidly declined since the 1950s, with the loss of woodland habitat a contributing factor. With fewer than 40,000 remaining in England, The Mammal Society has now included the red squirrel on its Red List for endangered British mammals.
However, there’s still a chance to spot a red squirrel on a forest or woodland walk. Wildlife expert Sean McMenemy from Ark Wildlife shares his top tips – assisted by regional Wildlife Trusts – for the best places to go:
Northumberland
- Northumberland, Hauxley (captured on trail cameras on a feeder near the visitor centre)
- Northumberland, East Cramlington Pond, Holystone North Wood, Holystone Burn
- Northumberland, Tony’s Patch (regular sightings)
- Northumberland, Juliet’s Wood, Briarwood Banks (both rare sightings)
- Allen Banks and Staward Gorge, Northumberland
- Cragside, Northumberland
- Wallington, Northumberland
Cumbria
- Cumbria, Smardale Gill (a premier nature reserve for spotting reds)
- Cumbria, Wreay Woods
- Aira Force, Cumbria
- Allan Bank and Grasmere, Cumbria
Lancashire
- Lancashire, Freshfield Dune Heath & Formby (frequent sightings in the woodland)
Dorset
- Dorset, Brownsea Island nature reserve (a strong population of red squirrels; one of only two populations in southern England)
Isle of Wight
- Isle of Wight, Bouldnor Forest (no introduced grey squirrels – reds thrive here)
- Borthwood Copse, Isle of Wight
If you would like to support a red squirrel charity, visit:
- Red Squirrels Northern England
- The Red Squirrel Survival Trust
- The Wildlife Trusts
- UK Squirrel Accord
- Red Squirrels United
Photo credit: Red squirrel – Rebecca Prest