Development funding for new Red Squirrel Recovery Network

I’m delighted to finally be able to share that this project, which has been in development since before covid(!), has secured the first stage of funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Red Squirrel Recovery Network has been awarded a grant of £158,600 to further develop the project with a view to submitting an application for £4.5 million next year.

This is really exciting news for red squirrels and it was a pleasure to work with partners in northern England and southern Scotland to bring this together. This will be the first project to work across the red squirrel range in both countries, delivering and learning from a co-ordinated approach to build a brighter future for this iconic species.

This grant means that the partnership can now take the next steps towards developing the full project which, if successful, will start delivery in 2025. The aim of the project is to establish the foundations for species recovery by developing fertility control as a realistic mechanism to control grey squirrel populations, engaging and training more volunteers and supporters, raising awareness in the wider community, monitoring and sharing robust data and involving landowners. It will also engage more people in nature, using the endearing red squirrel as a reason to get out and about, increase nature connectedness and benefit people’s wellbeing.

This has been a fantastic project to be involved with so far – working with Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester & Merseyside, Southern Uplands Partnership, Knowsley Safari, University of York, the Animal & Plant Health Agency and the UK Squirrel Accord.

Read more >>> https://www.nwt.org.uk/news/partnership-gains-support-red-squirrel-project