A Tale of Two Squirrels
(c) Adrian Kirby
(c) John M Green
Red Squirrels Sciurus vulgaris were once a common sight in the English countryside, living in harmony with our woodlands. Over the past century they have been wiped out from most areas by squirrel pox, a disease carried by the Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis, introduced from North America around 1900. Today the Red Squirrel is classed as endangered, with less than 30,000 living in England.
Our Red Squirrel Project will help boost Red Squirrel numbers in Britain by providing space for a new breeding colony, whose offspring may be used for reintroduction projects.
As part of our mission to promote healthy trees and woodland, the project educates about the challenges Grey Squirrels cause for Red Squirrels and our woodlands, while providing an opportunity for a close encounter with the beautiful and engaging, yet increasingly rare native squirrel.
Red Squirrels are smaller than Grey Squirrels with an average body length of 22cm and an equally long tail.
