Resources

Contents

 Books and Publications

 

Red Squirrels in My Garden

Published in 2018 by the European Squirrel Initiative and co-authored by Dr Craig Shuttleworth and Liz Halliwell, the book Red Squirrels In My Garden offers a comprehensive source of material on red squirrels, providing guidance and tips to help conserve local red squirrel populations.  You can download a free copy of the book as a PDF here>>

The War of the Squirrels

How can we create conditions for red squirrels to survive? Is there anything we can do even if we no longer have reds in our area? Bob Bradley’s paper  explains the threats presented by grey squirrels but offers an optimistic view that we can tip the balance by installing red squirrel-only nest boxes and by planting the right kind of trees. Bob sadly passed away in March 2018. He was a veterinary surgeon of more than 40 years’ experience and with a lifelong interest in red squirrels. He rescued and then released them back to the wild and also successfully bred them in captivity before release. Bob was a long-serving member of Westmorland Red Squirrels and lived in south Cumbria. He is very much missed for his wisdom and experience. You can download a PDF version of Bob’s paper here>>

Saving the Red Squirrel

This book brings together a large body of scientific evidence, frontline experience and key insights on achieving landscape-scale recovery for red squirrel populations from the leading practitioners working in the UK today. It is an exceptional blend of authoritative contributions from experts with a wide range of perspectives: from volunteers, voluntary groups and landowners through to researchers, academics and leading figures in the professional red squirrel community. The common thread which brings this diverse community together is a passion for red squirrels. They are united by their shared vision to secure a thriving and self-sustaining future for this amazing, iconic and fascinating species.  It can be downloaded free of charge as a PDF here>>

Shared experience of red squirrel conservation practice

European Squirrel Initiative e-book of red squirrel conservation case studies from local initiatives throughout the UK. Download the E-Book here>>

Invasive Alien Species Colonisation Prevention

A book entitled Invasive Alien Species Colonisation Prevention: Your guide to early detection and rapid response was published in 2019 by Red Squirrels United.  Thirteen case studies are presented, and key elements are distilled in order to provide this early detection and rapid response best practice for the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).  An E-Book version can be downloaded here>>

Action Plans

England Red Squirrel Action Plan 2023-2028

A new action plan to protect and enhance red squirrel populations in England. This five-year plan, 2023-2028, is supported by numerous red squirrel stakeholders and contains various actions. It can be downloaded here>>

Practice Notes and Guidance

Grey Squirrel control with live capture traps

Trapping guidance from BASC can be downloaded here>>

Controlling grey squirrels in forests and woodlands in the UK

The Forestry Commission has produced a technical note available online giving  guidance for controlling grey squirrels. It can be downloaded here>>

Red squirrels and forestry operations in England – operations note 65

This guidance note was published on 1st March 2023 and  sets out advice on how to plan and carry out forest operations in woodlands to minimise the possible impacts on red squirrels. It can be downloaded here>>

WS3: Squirrel control and management

From Natural England and the Rural Payments Agency, published 8 February 2022, last updated 29 March 2023. Find out about eligibility and requirements for Grey Squirrel control and management funding. Follow this link>>

 

Grey Squirrel Control

Red Squirrels Northern England’s recording form

For recording conservation activity, Westmorland Red Squirrels uses RSNE’s Excel spreadsheet.  If you have been trapping and shooting at the same location, you will need to record each method on a different row of data. You can download the form here>>

Lone Working Policy and Risk Assessment

Before undertaking any grey control on behalf of Westmorland Red Squirrels, all volunteers and rangers are required to read and comply with the Lone Working Policy  including Annex 1, the Westmorland Red Squirrels Risk Assessment Form. They should confirm that they have done so in writing to the Westmorland Red Squirrels’ Secretary via email to:  or in hard copy posted to Westmorland Red Squirrels’ registered address.

Both documents are downloadable via the links below.

Westmorland Red Squirrels Lone Working Policy>>

Westmorland Red Squirrels Risk Assessment Form – Annex 1>>

Red Squirrel Organisations

Grasmere Red Squirrel Group – Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/GrasmereReds Email: 

Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE) rsne.org

Northern Red Squirrels (NRS) www.northernredsquirrels.org.uk

Red Squirrel Survival Trust (RSST) www.rsst.org.uk

European Squirrel Initiative (ESI) www.europeansquirrelinitiative.org

United Kingdom Squirrel Accord (UKSA) www.squirrelaccord.uk

Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group www.penrithredsquirrels.org.uk

Wight Red Squirrel Project www.wightsquirrels.co.uk

Conservation Organisations

British Wildlife Centre www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk

Cumbria Wildlife Trust www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk

Wildlife Photographers

SARAH MCNEIL

Sarah has very kindly supplied us with photographs to use on our website and in other publicity. Sarah’s photographs cannot be downloaded for use elsewhere, but copies of the photographs can be obtained from Sarah by email on: 

BETTY FOLD GALLERY

Neil Salisbury of Betty Fold Gallery, Ambleside, has kindly provided photos for WRS publicity. Neil supplies wildlife, sporting and scenic images via his gallery. Email:  Online gallery at www.bettyfold.co.uk

FYLDE COAST WILDLIFE

Cliff Raby of Fylde Coast Wildlife has also generously given WRS permission to use his images. www.fyldecoastwildlife.co.uk

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