Latest news with #redSquirrels
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cross-border bid to create red squirrel strongholds
A cross-border conservation project to create red squirrel strongholds has been awarded nearly £5m of funding. Wildlife trusts from across the north of England are teaming up with organisations in the south of Scotland for a five-year programme of restoring habitats and controlling grey squirrels. The five-year plan will concentrate on fertility control of greys, with a contraceptive being introduced into the population. Natural predators of greys, such as pine martens, will also be encouraged into new areas, while restoration of red squirrels habitats will also take place. Alongside these initiatives, there will be a major push for communities, businesses and other organisations to get involved in saving the reds. Dr Karen Blackport, from Selkirk-based Bright Green Nature, said: "There are lots of new, innovative threads for helping red squirrels being introduced in this programme." Surveys have shown that about 75% of the UK's 160,000 red squirrels are to be found in Scotland. Numbers are continuing to decline as non-native grey squirrels, which were first introduced to country estates from North America in the late 1800s, drive them out of habitats. Greys also carry the squirrelpox virus, which is deadly to their red cousins. The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) has provided £4.86m for the five-year Red Squirrel Recovery Programme. About 50 voluntary conservation organisations have been involved in a 12-month development phase of the project, where a conservation plan was drawn up. The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership and Bright Green Nature will now team up with wildlife trusts in Northumberland, Cumbria, Lancashire and Merseyside for the next five-year phas. Dr Blackport added: "All of the work that has been done to date by so many organisations has been instrumental in forming the work that we are taking forward. "What is different this time is that it will be cross-border for the first time, and there will be an even greater emphasis on community engagement. "We want to get many more people involved in helping this iconic species." Listen to news for the Scottish Borders on BBC Sounds More stories from South Scotland Mike Pratt, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: "We are all absolutely delighted to have been awarded funding from NLHF to ensure red squirrel survival as we truly believe this project will make a sustainable long-term contribution to preventing the extinction of red squirrels in England and southern Scotland. "I'd like to say a massive thank you to all the community groups and volunteers who really worked and supported us over the past 12 months and helped turn our conservation dream into a reality." Greys invade England's red squirrel strongholds Disease that kills red squirrels moves north
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Cross-border project launched to create red squirrel strongholds gets £5m funding
A cross-border conservation project to create red squirrel strongholds has been awarded nearly £5m of trusts from across the north of England are teaming up with organisations in the south of Scotland for a five-year programme of restoring habitats and controlling grey five-year plan will concentrate on fertility control of greys, with a contraceptive being introduced into the predators of greys, such as pine martens, will also be encouraged into new areas, while restoration of red squirrels habitats will also take place. Alongside these initiatives, there will be a major push for communities, businesses and other organisations to get involved in saving the Karen Blackport, from Selkirk-based Bright Green Nature, said: "There are lots of new, innovative threads for helping red squirrels being introduced in this programme."Surveys have shown that about 75% of the UK's 160,000 red squirrels are to be found in are continuing to decline as non-native grey squirrels, which were first introduced to country estates from North America in the late 1800s, drive them out of also carry the squirrelpox virus, which is deadly to their red National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) has provided £4.86m for the five-year Red Squirrel Recovery Programme. About 50 voluntary conservation organisations have been involved in a 12-month development phase of the project, where a conservation plan was drawn Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership and Bright Green Nature will now team up with wildlife trusts in Northumberland, Cumbria, Lancashire and Merseyside for the next five-year phas. Dr Blackport added: "All of the work that has been done to date by so many organisations has been instrumental in forming the work that we are taking forward."What is different this time is that it will be cross-border for the first time, and there will be an even greater emphasis on community engagement."We want to get many more people involved in helping this iconic species." Mike Pratt, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: "We are all absolutely delighted to have been awarded funding from NLHF to ensure red squirrel survival as we truly believe this project will make a sustainable long-term contribution to preventing the extinction of red squirrels in England and southern Scotland."I'd like to say a massive thank you to all the community groups and volunteers who really worked and supported us over the past 12 months and helped turn our conservation dream into a reality."
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Approval sought for city woodland path improvements
Councillors have been asked to approve planned improvements to a historic wood in Inverness. Culduthel Community Woods are on about two acres (6ha) of land once associated with a former stately home that dated back to the 1780s. The woods were brought into community ownership in 2022 and are now the focus of projects to improve its paths, tackle invasive plants and encourage growth of native species. Highland Council officials have recommended that planned work to the wood's entrance, paths and a pond be granted permission. Rejuvenating a historic community-owned woodland We bought woodland where we walk our dogs for £900k Councillors are expected to visit the woods before considering the proposals at next week's south planning applications committee. The woods provide habitat to red squirrels and birds. Tiny burrows in an area of earth bank have also been found to be home to bees. Future proposals include improving an adjoining area of grassland for the benefit of plants and insects, and potentially putting up bat boxes. Highland Council Culduthel Community Woods
BBC News
08-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Approval sought for Inverness woodland path improvements
Councillors have been asked to approve planned improvements to a historic wood in Community Woods are on about two acres (6ha) of land once associated with a former stately home that dated back to the woods were brought into community ownership in 2022 and are now the focus of projects to improve its paths, tackle invasive plants and encourage growth of native Council officials have recommended that planned work to the wood's entrance, paths and a pond be granted permission. Councillors are expected to visit the woods before considering the proposals at next week's south planning applications woods provide habitat to red squirrels and burrows in an area of earth bank have also been found to be home to proposals include improving an adjoining area of grassland for the benefit of plants and insects, and potentially putting up bat boxes.
