Where to see red squirrels in England

Red Squirrel Awareness Week (21^st 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