Archived News Items 2011

August 2011 - Record numbers of red squirrel sightings

This year we have had over 100 red squirrel sightings reported to the project via the website. Red squirrel sightings are a great way of monitoring the distribution of the population in Gwynedd and on Anglesey, at is amazing to see how the species is recolonising every corner of the islandWe will be rebuilding the website in the next few months and hope to have a better interface for the reporting of red squirrel sightings. In the meantime we have the latest newsletter available.

July 2011 - Heritage Lottery Fund Award - Havan Y Wiwer Goch

We are delighted to announce that we have received a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £300K which will contribute 78% to our £384K red squirrel conservation project on the island of Anglesey 2011-2014.

We will soon be doing a major overhaul of the website to describe the ways in which people can get actively involved in the most successful red squirrel project in Wales. Red squirrels will be reintroduced into the Llangefni Dingle in 2011 and we will safeguard the future of the islands existing squirrel population with the active support of local landowners and the community.

Genetic research is a major part of our program and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Wildgenes Lab and Imperial College London. We have a genetic archive going back almost a decade and one of the longest genetic monitoring projects in the UK. We have developed ways in which local people can collect genetic samples from squirrels and also discover what types of small mammals are using their gardens.

We have placed 'Citizen Science' at the heart of everything we do, and the red and grey sighting records are now being computer modelled by a leading International Team with some match funding from ESI.

The most exciting news is the dramatic increase in red squirrel sightings, including a lovely record of red squirrels on Penmarian common and in adjacent gardens. Reds are also regularly seen at the Llyn Parc Mawr car park in Newborough and of course the species is now well established in Gwynedd.

Anyone wanting to join our Friends group can send a cheque for £5 or £10 to our Plas Newydd address. Our members have been the engine that has driven forward successful red squirrel conservation on the island. We would like to thank everyone for all their support, ideas and help during the process of applying for Heritage Lottery Funding, but most of all we feel that the grant award is a fantastic way to honour our founders Esme & Peter Kirby without whom the red squirrel would have been lost from our island.

With best wishes

The Friends of the Anglesey Red Squirrels Committee

July 2011 - Newborough Forest Science Review

At the recent meeting of the Newborough Liaison Partnership NLP (The forum for discussion about the Newborough forest) the community representatives, NGOs and council members voiced their concerns that Welsh Assembly officials and Dr Parker (chair of the Science Review) of Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) had failed to reply to correspondence from independent scientists involved in the Governments Science Review of site management. To recap, the review will decide the management of both forest and dune habitats within the Abermenai SAC area and whether extensive woodland clear felling will take place.

In addition, it was outlined that Welsh Assembly officials, Dr Parker, and the Countryside Council for Wales have together selected panel members and drafted terms of reference for the arbitration panel that will consider evidence. The four independent scientists had been excluded from this process. Despite complaints from independent scientists, Dr Parker had also circulated texts which did not accurately reflect the evidence presented by the independent scientists.

The NLP chairman, Prof Roger Cooper echoed the concerns of the local community and it was agreed that, through him, a letter would be sent on behalf of the Anglesey community to the Minister for Environment.

The Friends of the Anglesey Red Squirrels would echo the concerns voiced at the meeting and are also disappointed with the failure of due process.

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A Message of Support from Iolo Williams - TV Presenter, Wildlife Expert and our Patron

"I remember red squirrels being common around my home in the village of Llanwddyn in north Montgomeryshire but when I return these days, I see nothing but greys.  I have followed the success of the Anglesey red squirrel project with great interest because it is so heartening to see the reds striking back.  Thanks to the dedication of a few individuals, our native squirrel can once more be seen in several Anglesey woodlands and eventually, I would love to see greys eradicated from the whole of Britain.  This is unlikely to happen in my lifetime but  with the work on Anglesey going from strength to strength, at least there is some hope for future generations."

 

Help Support The Work Of The Friends

The Friends are a vital interface between the local community and countryside agencies involved in red squirrel conservation. We raise the profile of the Anglesey red squirrels, publicise the work that is being done to protect them, and identify factors that threaten their survival.

Current membership subscription rates are £10 per person.

Click here for a printable application form making a Cheque payable to:

'The Friends of the Anglesey Red Squirrels Trust' .

Send your cheque, with your name and address, to:

The Friends of the Anglesey Red Squirrels
Plas Newydd
LlanfairPG
Anglesey
LL61 6DQ

 

Where can you see red squirrels?

1. Llyn Parc Mawr Car Park Newborough Forest (SH413671)

Directions - From the A55, follow the A4080 to Newborough village, continue through the village in the direction of Malltraeth. Once the forest is on either side of the roads there is a signposted car park on the right (Wildlife Pool). There are three red squirrel feeders in the car park area. The woodland is owned by the Welsh Government and access is free here.

Red squirrels were reintroduced to the extensive pine forest in 2004-2007.

2. Plas Newydd (National Trust Property) (SH520700)

Directions - From the A55, follow the A4080 for 3km and the property is on the left and is well signposted.

Red squirrels were introduced to the park and gardens in 2008 and are quite widespread if a little elusive. The gardens to the west of the house are the best location to see red squirrels and there are several feeders.

For details of admission price and opening times visit the National Trust Website.

Current membership subscription rates are £10 per person.

3. Treborth Botanical Gardens (SH550712)

Directions - From the A5 in Gwynedd, take the left turn immediatly before the Menai Suspension Bridge. Follow the narrow road past the small industrial units and to the Treborth lodge. The road then passes through broadleaved woodland and there are several car parking bays (free).

Newsletters

In the period 2003-2007 we produced three bilingual Welsh/English newsletters per annum. From 2012 the newsletter will once again be in both languages and will be available to download.

Winter 2011/2012 - Download Newsletter (ENGLISH)

Winter 2011/2012- Download Newsletter (WELSH)

Autumn 2011 - Download Newsletter

Summer 2011 - Download Newsletter

Spring 2011 - Download Newsletter

Autumn 2010 - Download Newsletter

 

Contact Information

General Enquiries & Voluntering- Mail@redsquirrels.info

Education & Public Events - Branwen@redsquirrels.info

Membership Enquiries - Mail@redsqirrels.info

Report grey squirrel sightings - Craig@redsquirrels.info (07966150847)

In the event that a sick or dead red squirrel is found please contact us immediatly (07966150847). If a body can be collected, please use gloves and place the remains in a plastic bag. We will collect and pass to our veterinary pathologists for post mortem and viral screening.

Our postal address is:

The Friends of the Anglesey Red Squirrels Trust
Plas Newydd
LlanfairPG
Anglesey
LL61 6DQ