Saving the red squirrels of the Lake District

While visiting Grasmere you may have spotted a number of red squirrels running in and around the village.

Once a popular sight and the only native species in England, red squirrels have suffered a major decline. Since the introduction of the grey squirrel, red squirrels have dropped from around three and half million to an estimated one hundred and twenty thousand.

Helping to protect the red squirrels are the Grasmere Red Squirrel Group, who work with Allan Bank to make Allan Bank their ideal home. Supplementing the red squirrel’s diet, Allan Bank puts out monkey nuts and sunflower seeds every morning into their special feeders. They help to monitor the population and keep an eye out for any sick or injured squirrels.

As well as the Grasmere Red Squirrel Group, there are a number of groups in and surrounding Cumbria all with the same purpose to ‘protect the red squirrel’.

To find your nearest group visit:

http://www.northernredsquirrels.org.uk/nrs-groups/cumbria-groups/

To find out more or to see how you can show your support visit:

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/appeal/support-red-squirrels-in-the-lake-district