More recently, we have been working with the Binsey group to agree revised boundaries that better reflect how each group operates on the ground. Our updated map is attached, and a link is also provided to the Northern Red Squirrels website, where all local group areas are shown along with contact details.

We hope these revised maps provide greater clarity, particularly when reporting red and grey squirrel sightings, and help ensure information is directed to the most appropriate local group.

The statement sets out national priorities for the coming years and highlights:

• The importance of co-ordinated grey squirrel management, particularly at a landscape scale

• Clear links between squirrel management, woodland resilience, biodiversity and climate goals

• Continued use of existing lawful management approaches, alongside research into future tools

• Stronger collaboration between volunteer groups, landowners, woodland managers and partner organisations

While the policy does not introduce immediate changes on the ground, it sets the direction for future guidance, funding and partnership working.

Keswick Red Squirrel Group will review the detail carefully to ensure our own work and longer-term strategies remain aligned with national policy, best practice, and the needs of our local red squirrel populations and woodlands.

As part of this wider alignment, KRSG is now represented at England Red Squirrel Action Plan(ERSAP) meetings, helping to ensure that local knowledge, volunteer experience and practical delivery continue to inform regional discussions.

As always, our focus remains on evidence-based, responsible squirrel management, delivered in partnership with volunteers, landowners and other organisations.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/grey-squirrel-policy-statement/grey-squirrel-policy-statement-managing-the-impact-of-grey-squirrels

For more information, please click on the link which will take you to our membership system. Thank you!

https://membermojo.co.uk/keswickreds

Recently, we were advised of a number of reds, likely youngsters, lost to road accidents in the space of a few weeks at a particular spot on the B5322 at St Johns in the Vale. This was heartbreaking for the local community and wider supporters of our local reds.

We have installed an extra sign on that stretch of road and are looking into the possibility of a rope crossing bridge.

Please donate so that we can keep making our roads safer for our reds. Thank you.

Bank of Scotland; Keswick Red Squirrel Group; Sort Code 802260; Account Number 21522162

Clarifying Squirrel Numbers

The petition above is not linked to our group but was shared on our Facebook and has been getting great responses — wonderful to see!

It mentioned figures on grey and red squirrel populations that sparked some discussion within our team. If you see those numbers and are surprised, you’re not alone.

The petition states that according to DEFRA data, grey squirrels outnumber reds in Cumbria by 17.3% and in Northumberland by 25%. On paper, that doesn’t sound like a huge gap — it’s very different from what we see in the Keswick area and, we suspect, from what similar groups across Cumbria and Northumberland experience. Here, we’re working hard to manage large grey populations to protect our much smaller red communities.

So how do you count squirrels? The short answer: with difficulty! Numbers vary depending on the source, the counting method, and whether there’s been a complete and accurate survey — which is rare. Many groups, ours included, are run entirely by volunteers with limited resources. Tracking every squirrel isn’t always possible, and repeat sightings of the same animal can skew figures.

Each spring, a survey records where reds, greys, or both are spotted, using the same locations each year for comparison. This survey focuses on presence, not numbers, so it’s not a headcount. The 17.3% and 25% figures from the petition look to come from the 2024 survey, which reflects the number of sites visited by each species — not the total number of squirrels.

In our area, we often see only small groups of red squirrels, while greys are present in high numbers. Based on local feedback, the proportion of greys to reds here is far greater than the small gap those percentages suggest.

For context, older national estimates (though likely outdated) still give a useful sense of scale: over 3 million grey squirrels in the UK compared to just 287,000 reds. Greys reproduce more quickly, their young are more resilient, and they aren’t harmed by the squirrelpox virus they often carry - a virus that is fatal to reds. This means greys are likely still increasing while reds face ongoing threats.

It’s a complex picture, but we hope this helps clarify the scale of the challenge. Thank you for continuing to support our work to protect red squirrels.

We are delighted to announce that Keswick Red Squirrel Group has been awarded grant funding to support the vital work we do to protect and preserve our native red squirrel population.

Thanks to this generous support, we will be able to purchase much-needed equipment that will significantly enhance our ability to monitor squirrel populations, manage habitats and support our local red squirrels.

This investment will not only improve the efficiency and reach of our ongoing work but will also help support the long-term survival of red squirrels in our area.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Farming in Protected Landscapes, World Heritage and the Lake District National Park Authority for recognising the importance of our work and helping us take this next step forward. With this support, we can do even more to protect one of the UK’s most beloved and iconic native species.

Thank you also to all of our dedicated volunteers, supporters and partners who continue to work tirelessly for red squirrel conservation. Together, we’re making a real difference.