The Last Red Squirrel



Can you imagine the North West without our iconic red squirrel? This lovable creature is facing a struggle for survival, but it doesn't have to be this way. With YOUR help we can save the red squirrel from extinction.
Just 10 years ago, the red squirrel was a common sight in North-Western woodlands, parks and gardens but today this much-loved little creature needs your help...
Why are red squirrels under threat?

In 2008, a squirrel pox outbreak wiped out 80% of the red squirrel population on the Sefton Coast.
Grey squirrels carry the deadly squirrel pox virus but do not suffer from any symptoms. However it is fatal to red squirrels and can wipe out entire colonies.
The greys also outcompete the red squirrels for resources and strip trees of nuts before they are ripe enough for reds to digest, leaving them to starve.
Grey squirrels were introduced to the UK in the 1870s and now number in their millions. In contrast, more than 80% of native English red squirrels have been wiped out, making the refuge in North Merseyside vitally important.
Click here to view a map illustrating the decline of red squirrels in the UK since greys were introduced.

How you can Save the Reds

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust believes that this doesn't have to be the end of the story for the red squirrel.
Since 2009, when we launched The Red Squirrel Project, with a full-time officer, we have been able to control grey squirrels in key areas and seen a steady rise in the distribution of red squirrels throughout Merseyside and Lancashire.
But we cannot carry on this crucial work without your support. By joining the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester & North Merseyside you can save the red squirrel from extinction in the North West and play a part in the largest single species conservation project in the UK.
By becoming a member of the Trust you can help to secure the future of the red squirrel for just £4 per month, by:

• Paying for red squirrel feeders and humane traps
• Stopping the spread of grey squirrels across the North West
• Helping us to continue to improve and expand the habitat of the region's most iconic mammal
• Monitoring the distribution of the red and grey squirrels with yearly surveys
• Managing woodlands favoured by red squirrels

As a thank you Lancashire Wildlife Trust members receive:

• A welcome pack including a 96 page guide to our nature reserves
• Our Lapwing magazine, which keeps you upto date with what is happening both regionally and nationally.
• A monthly e-newsletter with updates from across the region
• Invitation to exclusive events
• Children's magazines, handbook, posters, stickers and badges

If you'd like to save the red squirrel become a member of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust today by clicking below.

Support The Last Red Squirrel on social media

You can help raise awareness of the red squirrel's battle for survival via our social media pages.
We'd love you to share your photos, facts and stories of red squirrels via our Facebook and Twitter pages. Please use the hashtag #thelastred in any postto support this campaign!
Facebook and Twitter users can also boost our campaign by signing upto a Thunderclap message that will be take place in October.
You can also show your support for the reds by updating your profile picture to include a red squirrel Twibbon! To do so just click here.

We and our neighbours (Ainsdale) are lucky in having Red Squirrels in our gardens on a regular basis.

One of the neighbours applied for planning permission to build an additional six bedroom detached house in his garden (no they are not big gardens, the proposed building is 80cm from an existing house and 100cm from another). On the application form he stated there were no protected species (the Red Squirrel is protected) "on the development site or on land adjacent to or near the proposed development".

As part of our objection we pointed this untruth out. The response from Sefton Planning department expressed "no concern regarding red squirrels" and they approved the application.

Looks like increasing Community Charge revenue is more important the protecting Red Squirrels.