Bedlington and District Red Squirrel Group

Red squirrels are under threat of extinction in England and perhaps most of the UK. Their numbers have been reduced from around 3 million to less than 130,000. In the same period the number of grey squirrels has grown from a few hundred imported in 1860 to over 3 million.

The Bedlington and District Red Squirrel Group was set up in March 2022 in response to dwindling numbers of red squirrels in the area. The Gallagher Park colony has shrunk from between 20 and 30 to single figures due to a pox outbreak. The group have over 20 local volunteers, who monitor for the presence of red and grey squirrels and attempt to protect the reds from the pox, which is spread by the greys.

We need funds to buy equipment for the group. This ranges from expensive wifi enabled trail cameras to supplies of timber to construct the monitoring boxes used across our woodlands.

In the period March to October '22 the group has already made a notable difference and we are receiving more sightings of red squirrels and in areas they have not been for some time. However, we are always just a pox outbreak away from losing most of our remaining reds and the battle to preserve them has to be relentless and long term.

Any contribution you can give to help our native reds to survive will be very gratefully received.