Westmorland Red Squirrels

© Peter Skillen

been very much appreciated. The are lucky enough to have in our area, start of the 5-year Grasmere to we need concerted action on a truly

Grizedale (G2G) project in landscape scale to prevent partnership with the National Trust and recolonising from ‘next-door’ when a Red Squirrels Northern England was a woodland has been cleared of grey

significant highlight of 2019. squirrels. Success for this strategy across our area will ultimately Elsewhere our various communities depend on the active involvement have shown what can be achieved and commitment from our large with local knowledge, co-operation Geoff Hetherington, Chairman landowners. Migrating grey squirrels and determination. Looking back over an eventful 2019, can travel long distances and quickly there has been so many people for But if we are to do more than just pose a threat to red populations, me to thank– your contributions have ‘hold the line’ for the red squirrels we even those some miles away.

Making the future safe for our red squirrels

2019 in a nutshell Squirrels

4628 333 greys caught reds reported

Events, meetings and publicity We attended

15meetings 6 internal meetings including trustees and management team meetings, and area steering group meetings 4 external meetings including one with Northern Red Squirrels Cumbria and two of the South Cumbria Squirrel Management Forum 1 conference Red Squirrels United conference in Southport 4 media interviews with BBC Radio Cumbria and the Westmorland Gazette We had a stand at 14 700 followers on twitter local events 8 talks given to community groups 331 subscribers to our E-News

1,465 likes on Facebook

Westmorland Red Squirrels—Annual Review 2019 Page | 2

Members at the end of 2019 140 members 343 individual 178 25 family

corporate

Financials for the 2019 calendar year Income Expenditure

Our most recently published accounts for the financial year 2018/19 show income as £51,318 and expenditure as £44,577

2017 reds …………….Some of our 2019 reds

Westmorland Red Squirrels—Annual Review 2019 Page | 3

the years. We need someone just to Elsewhere, we continue to control Ambleside and Langdale attach mesh to 2 jam jar lids - one lid grey squirrels in other woods and locations in the area. We have been The efforts from sponsors and is hard wired to the mesh and greatly encouraged by the increasing becomes the base and the other is volunteers continued at pace in this number of householders willing to get detachable and is the lid – we used area. involved by allowing us to site a trap in to use bird feeders but the squirrels their garden and also the increasing At Skelwith Fold Caravan Park scores are so destructive and the bird numbers of local hotels who support of Scots pines were planted which feeders expensive so we make our us, all of whom want to see a return of are much loved by red squirrels – own . It would be great if whoever red squirrels to the area. takes on the job is a supporter of our cause rather than a trapper who is John and Wendy Phillips are subject to being called out at any relinquishing their long held role of time but anyone offering help would coordinator for Windermere and be very much appreciated. Bowness. We are indebted to them for all their help and encouragement. Troutbeck Thankfully they are continuing to The number of grey squirrels culled in control the greys in the woodland around their home and hope their 2019 is slightly up on 2018 , 97 years of volunteering is finally and provide habitats for pine compared to 93. rewarded by the return of reds to martens, the deadly enemy of grey Rayrigg Woods and Sheriffs Walk. Happy to report that the reds are still squirrels. hanging on but they haven’t spread Finally, we are always on the lookout through the valley in the same way We previously reported a potential for volunteers to help us, this could be Squirrel Pox case at Skelwith Bridge they did a few years ago. They are just for a few hours a week, dropping thankfully the Vet confirmed it was at the top and the bottom of the off traps to houses, topping up feeders not SQPV - that could have been in woods, making squirrel feeders or such a problem as there are so many even making items or growing plants reds in the area. to sell at our stall in Troutbeck. If you have a skill or enjoy being outdoors, Delighted to report the reds are we want to hear from you! thriving at the Samling Hotel and surrounding woods.

The last year has been an unusual one in this area – very few greys have been trapped, our coordinator in the area even went 5 months without trapping anything, there were greys around but just would not valley however. Good to also report go in to the traps. This may well be that we are receiving a lot of support due to the abundance of food so from locals and visitors particularly at readily available – it was a really our village stall, so many thanks to good year for beech mast and hazel our contributors and buyers! AGM especially so they did not need to investigate traps. On the other hand Our well-attended AGM heard our Windermere the shooters have been doing a guest speaker, Craig Shuttleworth great job, they have really proved from Red Squirrel Trust Wales, focus on the benefit of the thermal imaging For the last 7 years, we have been the potential for red squirrel equipment and have had a good controlling greys in St Catherine’s deal of success - the gear is and Elleray Wood (Orrest Head). As a reintroductions. If we are to save our expensive but definitely proving its result the first red was seen 3 years native red squirrels, he argued, there ago. Since then there have been worth. would be times when we might need fairly regular sightings of single reds

near the National Trust Building in St to reintroduce and reinforce existing remaining populations. Previous Wanted! Catherine’s Wood and Elleray Wood, also along the path linking the two programmes have not always Ed Watson has been making all our woods. We are not sure how many succeeded. Recently, Craig has reds there are now but think there test and trap feeders for years and is helped the UK Squirrel Accord are at least 3 or 4, judging by their looking for someone to take over develop a Protocol for red squirrel size and colour. from him - he has got feeder making This might not sound much but it is captive breeding, public enclosures down to a fine art and has done a obvious that this environment suits and release programmes in the UK. wonderful job and is very willing to them and we are hopeful that this show any future candidate the year they will be able to breed and All officers and trustees were re- benefits of all he has learned over become a more common sight. appointed.

Westmorland Red Squirrels—Annual Review 2019 Page | 4

greys around Sizergh and Brigsteer, along the river both from the south Central Area red sightings have not been as and from Kendal itself. We are still seeing reds regularly in frequent as in previous years. A red We have an additional contractor to Kentmere, although not in such high was spotted on the roadside at Low cover the area to the north of the numbers since the felling at HP Sizergh Barn but unfortunately it had River Kent from Staveley through to plantation. Sadly, there are still no been killed. We are going to need to Burneside including Craggy Wood. reports of reds returning to look at strategies to prevent greys This will enable one of our other Longsleddale. Further south, and from occupying previously controlled contractors to concentrate on the despite substantial efforts to control areas as they seem to be using routes area to the South of Staveley.

Fundraising Gold Sponsors Red Squirrel Rescue We rely greatly on the generosity  Holgates Caravan Parks, In August we mentioned the exciting of members, sponsors and donors  Logs Direct news that, thanks to a partnership to support the work we do to  Linthwaite House Hotel between Westmorland Red Squirrels, deliver red squirrel conservation. Windermere the National Trust, the Grasmere Red Whether you popped a few coins Silver Sponsors Squirrel Group and Red Squirrels in one of our collection boxes or Northern England (RSNE), we had se- signed up for life membership, we  Langdale Leisure, Elterwater cured five years of funding to intensify thank you all. Then there were  Cedar Manor Hotel, Windermere squirrel management between those events such as the Grasmere and Grizedale. Building on Silverdale coffee morning, talks to Bronze Sponsors the invaluable work of colleagues to many community groups, and the fundraiser at the Hare and  Lindeth Howe Hotel, protect red squirrels in Grasmere, and Hounds in Levens, that all helped Windermere evidence from our Rusland Reds to swell the coffers.  WCF Pets and Equestrian, project of red squirrel presence to the Kendal south of Grizedale, RSNE had moved We also benefitted from quickly to appoint Jack Edmondson specific grants to support our as a red squirrel ranger. project work: Rusland’s Reds Jack has been focusing on the Tarn Hows area. Not only do reds have  Graythwaite Estate  Lake District National Park grey competitors in the area, but also Authority a large portion of the woodland is  Forestry Commission being felled due to an outbreak of  John Strutt Conservation Trust Phytophtera ramorum, a pathogen Sales of knitting patterns,  National Lottery Heritage Fund that affects larch. Troutbeck plant stall, and new for this year - the sale of reindeer Arnside and Silverdale Jack also worked with other staff and figures – raised over £700! volunteers to set up extensive trail  Barnes Conservation Trust camera monitoring of sites, which has Particular thanks go to all our  Arnside and Silverdale AONB Patrons and Corporate Sponsors helped to locate woodlands with  Landscape Trust who gave their support in 2019: both reds and greys. We will be  Grasmere to Grizedale (G2G) working closely with RSNE in 2020 to Patrons  National Trust encourage more local people to  Ian Gregg  Red Squirrels Northern England accomplish our objectives.  Skelwith Fold Caravan Park

throughout the population, the last few years by keeping greys to low Witherslack & Grange numbers still appear to be good. numbers and having monitored 2019 season was pretty good for the feeding stations on the edge of the We had several juveniles in Chapel reds in our area with the exception of forest as well as neighbouring land House as well as a small population a few suspected cases of Squirrel Pox we have been successful to a small observed at Witherslack on trail early in the year around Chapel extent already. cameras in August. We hope to House plantation at Staveley in enable the reds to spread beyond Grange needs a lot of work this year Cartmel, and possibly Cartmel Fell. Cartmel Fell during 2020, we have as the greys are still in quite high We don’t believe it spread been working towards this over the numbers in most of the woodlands.

Westmorland Red Squirrels—Annual Review 2019 Page | 5

Centre, we introduced eye-catching Northern Red Squirrels Rusland information panels and a family- Is an umbrella group that has been friendly leaflet and red squirrel fact In March, the National Heritage created to unite all independent sheet. The leaflets and fact sheets Lottery Funded Rusland Horizons voluntary groups and individuals were very well received and are who are working to help save our red scheme came to an end. Our part of now used by other major landowners squirrels from extinction in the North of the scheme, the Rusland’s Reds and visitor outlets. We also supported England. It is a ‘network of voluntary project, started in January 2016, led the Brantwood World Animal Day action’ that shares news, ideas and throughout by Bob Cartwright, our event and had our stand at the best practice. Each member group Deputy Chair. The various reviews, remains completely independent to Rusland Annual Show. internal and external concluded that allow it to address issues within its own it was a success. Now, because of its area in the most appropriate way. Fundraising has continued to be There are now 14 red squirrel groups achievements, Westmorland Red successful, with generous donations working hard in Cumbria. Squirrels will continue the project, still from Logs Direct, the John Strutt under the Rusland’s Reds brand, with Conservation Foundation, support from the Rusland Horizons Graythwaite Estate, Lake District UK Squirrel Accord Trust – another legacy of the National Park Authority and Forestry scheme. England. We thank them all. The UK Squirrel Accord is a UK-wide partnership of 37 leading On the ground, we had a successful Within the Rusland Valley is Hay conservation and forestry trapping season and were able to Bridge Nature Reserve. It is owned by organisations. use sighting reports to target known the John Strutt Conservation Last year we mentioned the Grey areas of greys. The only large-scale Foundation, who manage the land Squirrel Fertility Control Project. estate control was by the to maintain and enhance its diverse Graythwaite Estate. There was range of habitats. These include So far, results from the Animal Plant regular shooting of greys, but as woodland, pasture, open tarn, fen, Health Agency show that an oral these are not always reported, we raised bog, riverbank, and fell. The contraceptive was effective in believe that the cull numbers are resident warden is a keen advocate reducing reproduction in rats. APHA likely to be higher. Reporting of reds in helping the cause of the Red will move to testing the contraceptive continued to be low, but most Squirrel and is active in the culling of for effectiveness on grey squirrels. encouragingly we now believe that Grey Squirrels. Tests to deliver the contraceptive to there is evidence of a small number So overall a successful 2019, but with grey squirrels only are going well. of locations where there are resident more work to do to build on the Rhodamine B is used as a marker. It is red populations. In 2020, we intend fantastic start given by the Rusland consumed as part of the bait and is to use this knowledge to target our Horizon’s scheme. incorporated into the animal’s hair. trapping work. We will also look to This causes the hair to fluoresce under support the G2G project (reported UV light and identifies squirrels that elsewhere) in strengthening control have ingested the bait. on our northern boundary.

Further work will now be done to In a joint promotion in April, with the assess the amount of bait eaten per Forestry England at Grizedale Visitor visit, monitor bait uptake in areas with different squirrel densities and refine move up as we have had a good the bait uptake by non-target Coniston & Torver clearance of Greys at that end of species. Whilst we only have a few people the village. Defra is complementing this research actively tackling the greys in this area We were very pleased to accept a by creating a model to predict grey we were delighted when we had the £100 donation towards our cause in squirrel densities in woodlands to sighting of a Red Squirrel in Coniston. guide management efforts . Torver and Coniston from the Torver The home owner has shown our area Country Fair committee . coordinator the footage of a Red enjoying their garden which was a delight to see.

In Torver, we have yet to see Reds but we are hopeful that the popula- tions from the Broughton area may

Westmorland Red Squirrels—Annual Review 2019 Page | 6

protocols for reintroductions. The population densities particularly Arnside & Silverdale area to the South West of Arnside was evidencing the declines as we Our coordinators and volunteers have the most obvious area since it was steadily clear the area of the been working hard in this area. There protected from Grey re-incursions by peninsula. We have yet to work out are around 55 volunteers mostly the sea, Arnside Tower Farm valley the precise methodology but would trapping and shooting within their pasture, and the treeless marsh land use hair tubes to check for Grey hairs own gardens. There are also 3 part areas to the North East. It represents to detect presence or otherwise. They time Squirrel Rangers, a high 270 ha of contiguous woodland, well also have GPS collars to track proportion of their work is paid for by above the 200ha recommended by movement of Reds once they are landowners. the UK Squirrel Accord. We could also released. Dr Claire Holt has joined our count on the cooperation of all the Steering Group from the University. After a great deal of work over the landowners within the area. We have She has considerable prior experience last 5 years, we have successfully chosen to call this area the “Arnside with squirrels so her support will be controlled Greys within the AONB but Peninsula”. invaluable. are not able to clear them over the whole AONB because of lack of Controlling Greys elsewhere in the We continue to live ‘hand to mouth’ resources. We are also unlikely to AONB will continue. This is because with great reliance on a small number have Red incursions from the north, Greys generally look for new territories of benefactors and uncertain grant applications. sufficient to establish a breeding when they are under population colony within the AONB naturally pressure. The other reason is, if we We need to identify new sources of anytime soon. continue to control Greys across the funding – and new volunteers to help whole AONB then in the course of secure it. Any offers of help/donations The plan is to concentrate our efforts time Reds could move from the are welcome. We also need a fund to clear Greys from a defendable Peninsula to other areas of the AONB raiser who would, in particular, look for area to prove we can do so and to as their population grows. donations over say 5 years so that we create an area where Reds could be have longer term funding security reintroduced. This could be done We are hoping to develop links with maybe from our local businesses who while following the guidance within Cumbria University who are keen to would benefit from the extra footfall the UK Squirrel Accord’s new do monitoring work for us on Grey that a Red Sanctuary might bring.

Westmorland Red Squirrels—Annual Review 2019 Page | 7

Looking forward 2020, this is certainly going to be a year of ups and downs given that there is still huge uncertainty regarding the likely environmental implications of Brexit, with many complex issues yet to be resolved. It is far too early to say whether Brexit will end up being good or bad for nature in the UK. The Secretary of State’s pledge to put the ‘environment first’ in future policy is an important statement of intent.

If you zoom in from the big picture, here in our area there are inspiring stories of regeneration and positive change, with nature making a difference in people’s lives, and people valuing and nurturing their natural environment. These stories are the key to securing our areas future; we Westmorland Red Squirrels need to learn from them, replicate them and thereby build our area into one which nature and people coexist. Our thanks to Cumbria Wildlife Trust for printing this Annual Review and to Neil McIntyre for the use of his images: We’re so often flooded with bad news www.neilmcintyre.com of environmental catastrophe that we can feel paralyzed but I am heartened Website: www.westmorlandredsquirrels.org.uk by the sheer amount of people who on a local scale are actively involved in Charity Number: 1144416 conservation projects, especially regarding Red Squirrels Secretary: Gail Armstrong Bringing these amazing people Tel: 01524 701316 together in a network will do so much – Email: [email protected] and already has done so much – for Chairman: Geoff Hetherington squirrels everywhere. Mob: 07836 584201 A Big THANK YOU to everyone who has Email: [email protected] sent in sightings of red or grey squirrels. Sign up for our E-News: www.westmorlandredsquirrels.org.uk/ The information is invaluable as we try news/ to document the natural expansion of the areas red squirrel population and attempt to remove grey squirrels.

We are also especially interested if red squirrels are visiting gardens or bird tables and for copies of any pictures which we can put on Twitter or Facebook.

Report your squirrel sightings via our online reporting form: www.westmorlandredsquirrels.org.uk/sightings or by email to: [email protected] or by telephone: 01539 821714

Westmorland Red Squirrels—Annual Review 2019 Page | 8