Cross-border bid to make red squirrel strongholds 

A new conservation project to create red squirrel strongholds across England and Scotland has been awarded nearly £5m in funding. Wildlife trusts from across the north of England are teaming up with organisations in the south of Scotland for a five-year programme of restoring habitats and controlling invasive grey squirrels. 

The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) has awarded £4.86m for the Red Squirrel Recovery programme, which focuses on fertility of greys, with the introduction of a contraceptive into the population. Predators of greys, such as pine martens, will be encouraged into the areas. 

Mike Pratt, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: “We are all absolutely delighted to have been awarded funding from NLHF to ensure red squirrel survival because we truly believe this project will make a sustainable long-term contribution to preventing the extinction of red squirrels in England and southern Scotland.” 

Northumberland Wildlife Trust will team up with Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership and Bright Green Nature from Selkirk, along with wildlife trusts in Cumbria, Lancashire and Merseyside for this five- year phase of the project.