Local Group Expands Battle to Save Native Red Squirrels
A local conservation group is waging war against an invasive species that threatens to wipe out one of Britain's most beloved woodland creatures. The Bedlington and District Red Squirrel Group (BADRSG) was formed in 2022 to combat the spread of squirrel pox virus, which is deadly to native red squirrels but harmless to gray squirrels introduced from North America in the 19th century. By controlling gray squirrel populations, the group hopes to allow dwindling red squirrel numbers to rebound in parks and woodlands across southeast Northumberland.
What started as an effort focused on the Bedlington and Choppington areas has now expanded into much broader territory previously overseen by a separate group based in Morpeth. As of this year, BADRSG's mission encompasses forests and green spaces throughout Ashington as well. The fight to preserve one of Britain's most iconic wildlife species is gaining momentum.
In the two years that the group has been operating it has seen the return of our native reds to woodlands they had not been seen in for some years. The group are now reaching out to the various town and parish councils as well as groups that manage woodland areas to help us recruit additional volunteers and or provide funding for the equipment needed for our work.
Ashington has a number of beautiful woodlands, including Woodhorn, the Wansbeck Riverside Park and the Ashington Community Woodland (ACW). Red squirrels are still present in some of these woodlands. We need your help to protect them and to help them flourish and spread.
How can you help?
- Report any sightings of red or grey squirrels, alive or dead through the contact points below.
- If you regularly walk in any of the Ashington woodlands please volunteer to help us. This will take 1 hour of your time each week and can be done as part of your walk. Most of our volunteers are dog walkers who would be in the woods anyway. Get in touch using the contact details below.
- If you back onto woodland and have seen grey squirrels in your garden then we can provide a trap to capture them. One of our trained volunteers will come and deal with any greys caught.
- If you have a squirrel feeder in your garden please remove it. They are the single biggest cause of cross contamination between greys and reds, resulting in the death of the reds.
- If you are able to donate, to help us with our equipment or running costs that would be greatly appreciated. Please contact us for details of how, or use our GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/a53371cb
This photograph was taken recently and is one of our local red squirrels. As you can see, she is heavily pregnant and will hopefully have 2 or 3 healthy kits shortly.
