Red Squirrel Project Launches £250,000 Community Grant Initiative
Groups in northern England and southern Scotland can apply for funding to support red squirrel conservation efforts.
The Red Squirrel Recovery Network (RSRN) has opened a £250,000 community grant program aimed at supporting groups working to protect endangered red squirrels. The initiative invites applications for grants ranging from £500 for smaller activities to £5,000 for projects with broader reach.
The RSRN project, which began in 2025, collaborates with conservation partners and volunteer organizations across Northumberland, Cumbria, Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, and southern Scotland. Its primary goal is to increase public awareness about the threatened status of red squirrels.
Conservationists have warned that red squirrel populations are dwindling. Save Our Reds, an animal welfare group, stated in May that the species in Cumbria, Northumberland, and the North Pennines is precarious and could vanish within 25 years. The RSRN estimates the total red squirrel population across Britain to be around 287,000.
Natural England attributes the decline to factors including the introduction of grey squirrels from North America, which began in 1876. Grey squirrels carry the squirrelpox virus, which is lethal to red squirrels but not to grey ones. Habitat loss and insufficient enforcement of existing wildlife protections also contribute to the problem, according to Save Our Reds.
Heather Harris of the RSRN highlighted the National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported project's aim to underscore the importance of red squirrels to the nation's heritage. The RSRN seeks to engage both older generations who remember red squirrels and younger individuals who may have less access to nature or have not yet seen one.
The network aims to fund initiatives that help local communities celebrate red squirrels and foster a connection with nature. This could include organizing themed walks or improving conservation-related spaces.
Mike Denbury, RSRN programme manager, encouraged proposals that range from introducing children to red squirrels to implementing larger-scale habitat protection projects. "We're keen to hear your ideas on inspiring action for nature," he stated.