What we do

What is Save our Squirrels?

Save our Squirrels is the largest single-species conservation project taking place in the UK at present.  Launched in July 2006, the project has the remit to deliver red squirrel conservation, information, and access projects in Northumberland, Cumbria, North Yorkshire, and North Merseyside. 

Save our Squirrels was created by Red Alert North England in 2006 to deliver the North of England Red Squirrel Conservation and Access Strategy. A steering group was created which today includes:

Statutory agencies including Forestry Commission and Forest Enterprise, DEFRA, English Nature and the Northumberland and Lake District National Park Authorities
Private organisations such as Center Parcs and the Confederation of Forest Industries
Voluntary sector conservation bodies and partnerships such as the Wildlife Trusts and the National Trust

Our Aims

The Save our Squirrels project has three main aims:

• Raising the profile and plight of the red squirrel through working with schools and other educational institutions; involving local communities and the general public in red squirrel conservation; and providing places where people can see and engage with red squirrels in the wild
• Working with landowners and managers in 17 designated Red Squirrel Reserves, and their surrounding areas, to develop and maintain good quality habitat for red squirrels and eliminate any grey squirrels that enter the area
• Securing the long-term future and sustainability of red squirrel conservation, access and public engagement activities until a deliverable vaccine against the squirrelpox virus is developed

If you would like to find out more about the project and its objectives, please click here to download a copy of our general information sheet.

Volunteer groups

Much of the practical conservation and control activities which protect the red squirrel are delivered by a network of dedicated volunteers working either individually or as part of a local squirrel group.  We are proud to work in partnership with them and to recognise the impact their efforts have made in protecting red squirrel populations throughout the North of England. We also work closely with similar projects across the UK. 

North of England

Northumberland, Cumbria, North Yorkshire and North Merseyside are home to the last remaining populations of red squirrels in mainland England. Population numbers are concentrated in 17 mostly coniferous forests, designated as Red Squirrel Reserves, although there are still strong populations of red squirrels living in areas outside these reserves in Cumbria and Northumberland.  Click here to see where these reserves are.

Contact us for more information