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Red
squirrels send out an SOS...
THE native red
squirrels living in some of the most picturesque landscapes across
the North of England are sending out a national distress signal
calling for help... --- ... --- ...
On Thursday, 15 March
2007, campaign mascot, 'Teazel the Squirrel', who was
wearing a distinctive, promotional T-shirt was helping members of
the Save our Squirrels (SoS) team to launch a new interactive
website and hotline phone
number. 'Teazel' was joined by red squirrel supporters
from Range High School in Formby, Merseyside and Formby Girl Guides
at St Luke's Church Hall, Formby on Thursday 15 March 2007 for the
launch as the new £40,000 squirrel access and interpretation trail
is the first of the SoS teams capital projects. The trail, which is
nearing completion, has been developed in conjunction with the
Sefton Coastal Partnership and Sefton District Council, with
financial assistance from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Mersey
Waterfront Partnership. The trail is located in Formby to the south
of Freshfield which is already world famous as one of the best sites
to view red squirrels in the wild, in the UK. Both areas are part of
the Sefton National Squirrel Refuge.
Range High School worked with the People & Wildlife Officer, Sally
Orritt, to design and build feeders for the squirrel trail. Sally
also worked with the Girl Guides and local sculptor, John Merrill,
to design three sculptures situated along the trail, which members
of the general public will be able to see when the trail is
officially opened in May 2007.
The new Save our Squirrels (SoS)
website was created by Red
Alert North England the scheme has been made possible by a £656,000
grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and generous support from both
the public and private sector and individuals. Visitors to the new
website will be able to log
sightings of red squirrels by completing a user friendly online
form. This information will be automatically entered into a
database, and the results displayed in a regularly updated map form
on the
website, as well as being
shared with academic and conservation organisations across the UK
and abroad.
The website will provide access to up to date information on red
squirrel conservation, habitat management, public activities and
events, as well as giving people the chance to read the latest
research on squirrel related issues.
As Carri Nicholson,
SoS project manager explained:- "It is a vital part of our
campaign to increase awareness about the plight of one of the
country's most popular native species. The SoS
website and hotline number will
allow members of the public to directly record sightings of red
squirrels to help us map their distribution across England. We also
need people in the North of England to record sightings of grey
squirrels so that we can track their spread and help prevent them
from entering the last safe havens for red squirrels on mainland
England.
Red squirrel populations are currently in decline due to a variety
of reasons such as loss of habitat, competition for food sources
with greys and, most importantly, the transmission of the deadly
squirrel poxvirus disease from grey to red squirrels. The SoS
project aims to combat this decline by working with educational
institutions, the general public and landowners, to manage habitats
and provide advice and support on squirrel conservation issues."
The National Squirrel Sightings Hotline, it is hoped, will make it
easier for members of the public to report squirrel sightings
immediately.
This number will ring
within the centre of the SoS headquarters where staff will be on
hand to provide information and advice on all squirrel related
issues.
Visit the new
website or contact the National
Squirrel Sightings Hotline on 0845 347 9375 to find out more about
how you can help red squirrels in the UK.
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