Red Squirrel reserves

Conifer plantations 

Seventeen large plantation conifer forests in northern England have been designated to help red squirrel conservation. Each reserve (approximately 200 hectares) is surrounded by a 5km area called a buffer zone which help us to protect the reserve from approaching grey squirrels. Click on the following links for maps to the 17 reserves: Overview, Kyloe, Uswayford, Kidland, Harwood, Raylees, Kielder, Dipton/Dukeshouse, Healey/Kellas, Slaley/Dukesfield, Greystoke, Whinfell, Whinlatter, Thirlmere, Garsdale/Mallerstang, Widdale, Sefton.

Previous efforts to save the red squirrel in the wider landscape (particularly in broadleaf and mixed woodlands) have failed to stop the catastrophic decline of red squirrels due to the overwhelming effect of competition and squirrelpox virus (SQPV). Current red squirrel conservation strategy now focuses on protecting red squirrel populations in large plantation conifer forests.

This approach has been developed following many years of research by leading scientists in the field, and is widely accepted as the only option that provides long-term hope for the red squirrel on mainland England. The same approach is also adopted in Scotland and Wales.

Advantage for red squirrels

Large plantation conifer forests can provide red squirrels with a significant competitive advantage over grey squirrels,. This is due to the small seeds available from conifer cones, and the lack of the variety of additional food sources offered by diverse broadleaf habitats. At roughly twice the body weight, grey squirrels have a much higher daily food intake that reds, and find the small conifer seeds insufficient. This provides red squirrels with a competitive advantage over greys.