Formby red squirrels go nuts over £1.2m Lottery funding

Efforts to protect Formby’s endangered red squirrels are set to receive a boost from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Funding totalling £1.2m will go to support a four-year programme to secure the future of the native red, immortalised as “Squirrel Nutkin” by Beatrix Potter, across the UK.

The Red Squirrels United coalition, led by The Wildlife Trusts, will work directly in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and with the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels partnership in cross-border action in a bid to reverse the fortunes of the charismatic mammal.

The project will involve culling grey squirrels to preserve existing areas which are free of the non-native species.

It will extend existing red squirrel “protection zones” in Formby and mid-Wales.

Stephanie Hilborne, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “Our beautiful native red squirrels deserve our protection in every part of the UK where they can still thrive.

“This investment will allow us to unite hundreds of people championing this charismatic creature into one UK force for good. It will build on decades of hard work and passionate commitment.”

Tom Tew, trustee at the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: “The ongoing plight of the red squirrel is perhaps one of the most alarming and well-known conservation issues that this country has seen.

“It’s great to see such strong co-operation between conservation organisations which now, thanks to National Lottery players, have a great opportunity to capitalise on all the local work and build a co-ordinated, national response to the threats faced by this endangered species.”

Red Squirrel Photo by Colin Lane