SSRS North East Scotland
Annabel Harrison is Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) Project Officer for North East Scotland. Find out how you can get help from Annabel or support her work. Contact Annabel.
Action in the North East
Annabel explains: “Red squirrels are in decline in the UK. The majority of red squirrel populations have disappeared from England and Wales with Scotland now hosting 75% of the entire UK population. Grampian remains a stronghold for the red squirrel, with large areas of good quality red squirrel habitat. Although much of this habitat remains free of grey squirrels, greys are beginning to spread out of Aberdeen City and across Aberdeenshire, particularly down the river corridors of the Dee and Don. Red squirrels have already disappeared from many areas, including much of Aberdeen City, with further populations currently at risk. We are acting now to reverse this decline in red squirrels and help preserve their persistence in Scotland and the UK.”
Annabel is working to support landholders and forest managers in key areas to improve forests for red squirrels and undertake grey squirrel control to protect red squirrels in Grampian and across the Highlands from replacement by greys.
We aim to establish a co-ordinated network of landowners, householders, and project staff all working together to help red squirrels. Control is already ongoing around the periphery of Aberdeen City, Banchory and Peterculter.
Within Aberdeen City, SSRS is focussed on preventing any further red squirrel losses. Grey squirrel control will be carried out in and around areas with existing red squirrel populations to protect them and to make space for their population to expand. SSRS hopes red squirrels will soon return to parks and gardens in Aberdeen, and some initial sightings indicate we could already be achieving success.
SSRS Support
Annabel can help landowners access funding for red squirrel conservation work and give guidance on forest management to benefit red squirrels.
A trap loan scheme, with support and training available, is now running for landowners and householders in key target areas in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire. Contact Annabel to find out more.
You can also help SSRS by volunteering to survey areas local to you or by reporting your squirrel sightings at www.grampiansquirrelgroup.co.uk.
Find out where you can visit to see red squirrels in north east Scotland or in other areas across Scotland.
Thanks to our funders
In addition to financial support from project partners, SSRS has received funding from a range of sources.
The work of SSRS in the North East has been specifically funded by Aberdeen Greenspace, Biffaward, Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER, and the Red Squirrel Survival Trust.
SSRS would like to thank all our funders for generously contributing to our project.
