2023 saw the introduction of Red Squirrels to the Arboretum. Thanks to our amazing volunteers a compound was built where they could live safely and in as natural environment as possible with trees and ropes to climb and nesting boxes all provided. Three young squirrels, Erike, Hazel and Holly joined us in December 2022, being very friendly with visitors and soon getting used to breakfast appearing in the mornings. Kits followed later in the year with several litters, in total 12 young squirrels were born. This was a remarkable success.
Over the autumn and winter the kits were transferred to other sites, both captive and released into the wild. Six kits went to Clocaenog Forest in North Wales and are enjoying themselves roaming free. The last young male, Erikson, went over to Warrington just recently and is settling in well with two young females to play with.
Unfortunately, due to a fighting injury we lost Erike over the winter. We now have three young girls, Hazel, Holly and one of their young Ginger. We hope to be introducing a new male over the winter so they can get to know one another before the breeding season next year. To help with this we will be constructing a new isolation compound so the young males born next year can be separated easily without causing distress and inbreeding, before they go to new sites to increase the population of red squirrels across the country.
From September 30th to October 6th, it is Red Squirrel Awareness week. This is dedicated to increasing awareness of and action for UK red squirrels and their conservation. This week takes place at the start of global Squirrel Awareness Month. Each day will focus on a different theme to share information and encourage action.
From the Monday to Friday there will be a range of webinars in the Tree Health Centre each will focus on a different theme to share information and encourage action. On Monday it starts at 12noon, Tuesday at 11am and Wednesday to Friday at 12 noon. They last about an hour. You are welcome to join in and learn more about these amazing creatures.
We are launching new ways you can support our work with red squirrels, we have a range of adoption levels with a new acorn friend at £30 a year going up to a Hazelnut friend at £450 that sponsors the compound for a month.
At the moment the girls are getting ready for the winter so tend to be more active than usual but unsurprisingly don’t like the bad weather we’ve been having. Do come over and enjoy the antics of Hazel, Holly and Ginger. We have talks at 10.30am in the compound each Tuesday and Saturday through to the end of November (weather dependent), where you can find out more about these adorable and increasingly endangered native species.
