© Object

Go nuts about Red Squirrel Week!

4th August, 2005

To highlight the plight of red squirrels, The Wildlife Trusts have teamed up with other organisations involved in red squirrel conservation work (including The National Trust and Red Squirrels in South Scotland) to bring you a range of events at selected red squirrel sites during Red Squirrel Week, which is running from the 10th to 18th September 2005.

Red squirrels are one of the UK’s best loved native species. With their distinctive russet fur, tufted ears and twitching tails, a red squirrel is always a captivating sight in the forests of the UK. They’re agile, cute and furry, and we’re all nuts about them!

Yet these flashes of red are becoming more and more rare - the current population is estimated to be only 160,000. Habitat fragmentation, disease and the introduction of grey squirrels are key factors in their decline. Red squirrels are usually displaced within 15 years of the arrival of greys.

During Red Squirrel Week you’ll get the chance to learn more about red squirrel conservation work at events taking place at selected red squirrel spots, such as a red squirrel picnic, walks, talks, woodland surveys, training and monitoring sessions.

A summary of the events running can be found overleaf. Full details of all these events can be found by visiting www.wildlifetrusts.org then clicking on ‘Events’ and then ‘Red Squirrel Week’. Alternatively use the link below to go directly to the Red Squirrel Week page:

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/index.php?section=places:events:redsquirrelweek

From this page you can also download a ‘Red squirrel fascinating factsheet’ and find out how to support red squirrels even if you can’t get to an event, either by adopting a red squirrel from Brownsea Island or becoming Friend of the Red squirrel to support the Red Alert North West project. You can also find out where to send in your red squirrel sightings, should you be lucky enough to see one.

- ENDS -

Story by Nicola Strazzullo

More Information

Nicola Strazzullo
Communications Officer
Direct Tel: 01636 670082
Mobile: 07887 754 659
Email: press@wildlife-trusts.cix.co.uk

Editor's Notes

To view editor's notes you must be logged in as a member of the press. Click here to log in or click here to register.

< back