Welsh stars draw attention to red squirrels

Welsh stars have highlighted a campaign to save the endangered red squirrel in Wales . A host of celebrities including Bryn Terfel, Aled Jones, Neil Kinnock and wildlife expert Iolo Williams, have drawn red squirrels for the "scribble a squirrel" appeal organised by the Friends of the Anglesey Red Squirrels.

Sportsmen, celebrities, TV stars and politicians all contributed autographed sketches and doodles of red squirrels which will be auctioned on the internet in May with the funds raised going to a range of red squirrel conservation projects in Wales .

The red squirrel is one of the most endangered animals in Wales with only 500-1000 animals remaining in the wild. The decline of the red squirrel is largely the result of competition from grey squirrels which were introduced to England from North America in 1876, and which subsequently spread into Wales . Grey squirrels compete directly with red squirrels for food and they also frequently carry the ‘squirrel pox virus', which is fatal to red squirrels.

In response to the threat posed to native red squirrels by the grey squirrel, several conservation projects are now underway. The most successful of these is a joint venture on Anglesey between Forestry Commission Wales, local woodland owners, and the rural regeneration company Menter Môn.

Red squirrel expert, Dr Craig Shuttleworth of Menter Môn said,

“Anglesey is playing a lead role in the national campaign to safeguard the red squirrel. Through our efforts, red squirrels are now a common sight in Pentraeth forest and they have been successfully reintroduced into Newborough forest. This year we also began to restore the red squirrel back into the coastal woodlands bordering the Menai Straits and we hope in the future that red squirrels will colonise the whole of the island.”

“As an island, Anglesey has offered a unique opportunity to reverse the national decline of the red squirrel. There are currently fewer than 100 grey squirrels remaining on Anglesey and once these animals are removed we can firmly establish the island as a national red squirrel sanctuary”

Becky Moss, coordinator of the Friends of the Anglesey Red Squirrels said,

“Red squirrels are one of the most popular native species in Wales , public support for them is fantastic, and through the scribble a squirrel campaign we hope that the red squirrel plight is further highlighted. If people want to get involved directly with red squirrel conservation they can join the Friends of the Anglesey red squirrel group online at www.redsquirrels.info”

FC Wales Conservation Manager in North Wales, Martin Gould, said,

“We're delighted that all the hard work we have been doing with Menter Mon to safeguard the red squirrel in the Assembly's woodlands on Anglesey has produced such impressive results.”

“We are managing our woodlands in a way that is helping to conserve the red squirrel and many other threatened species, and it's extremely pleasing to receive the support of so many celebrities who contributed their squirrel sketches to this worthwhile cause.”

 

Notes to Editors

For further information and digital images please contact Dr Craig Shuttleworth

Mobile 07966150847

Email craig@redsquirrels.info

Website www.redsquirrels.info

 

For details of the Friends of the Anglesey Red squirrels

Telephone 01248 725755

Email becky@mentermon.com

Website www.redsquirrels.info

• Red squirrels can now only be found in Wales on the island of Anglesey , in Clocaenog forest and in isolated woodlands in Mid Wales.
• Red squirrels are much smaller, weighing 270-320g, than the grey squirrel which typically weighs 550-700g.
• The Friends of the Anglesey Red Squirrels is a community group established in 1999. Patrons are Lady Anglesey and Iolo Williams.
• In 2004, a joint project between Welsh Mountain Zoo, Forestry Commission Wales and Menter Môn successfully reintroduced red squirrels back into Newborough forest on Anglesey .
• Forestry Commission Wales looks after the 320,000 acres (130,000ha) of public forests owned by the Welsh Assembly Government. In conjunction with Menter Mon, it devised a forest management plan to safeguard the native red squirrel by creating a habitat ideally suited to the species.
• Scribbles from Anglesey were received from Albert Owen MP, Ieuan Wyn Jones AM and rugby star Robin McBride.