January 21 saw National Red Squirrel Appreciation day - a day dedicated to recognising the animal as an important part of the UK’s wildlife.

The red squirrel is the UK's only native squirrel species however has been in rapid decline for decades.

In 2018 The Woodland Trust reported the UK population of reds dropped from around 3.5 million to between 120,000 to 160,000 since the introduction of the non-native grey squirrel in 1870.

2023 did see some good news however after reds' numbers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were reported to be stable after a particularly successful breeding season.

Work by volunteers, supported by government legislation, is currently preventing the red from going extinct.

The Mail: Red squirrels - in dangerEfforts in the Lake District to preserve the species have been remarkably successful and according Cumbria Wildlife Trust, the county as a whole has 14 red squirrel groups entirely made up of volunteers.

One of these is Jackie Foott of the South Lakes Red Squirrel Group who has been involved in red conservation in Cumbria for more than 30 years.

"Seeing red squirrels back in the Furness area is very important to me," Jackie said. "The only reason there are reds in the north of England is because of the enormous effort given to grey squirrel management by the volunteers over the last 30-40 years.

"Unfortunately, the single biggest threat to the red squirrel is the grey. This non-native invasive species is also doing huge amounts of environmental and economic damage.

"They cause huge damage to woodlands by stripping bark from trees and there is a strong movement across the country by foresters, land managers, property owners and individuals to remove grey squirrels.

"The larger grey can essentially out-compete red squirrels in terms of food and habitat, plus they are a carrier of a ‘squirrel pox’ which is lethal to red squirrels.

"Greys have developed immunity to the disease and it only takes one grey squirrel to wipe out large numbers of reds."

The Mail: The wording of 'Red Squirrel Conversation' and 'Grey Squirrel Management' can be problematic for some as one cannot exist without the other. 

The culling of grey squirrels humanely is a legal activity in support of red squirrel conservation and those that break this, i.e. by another method such as drowning, can be prosecuted. 

Currently it is illegal to release a trapped grey squirrel into the wild or to keep a grey squirrel in captivity.

There are courses people can take in Grey Squirrel Management Training such as this one by Lantra.

The concept of human interference in wildlife doesn't sit right with everybody however and as such, there are non-lethal methods that are being developed. 

In 2021 the UK government gave its support to a project to use oral contraceptives to control grey squirrel populations. 

Introducing Pine Martens as predators of the greys has also been considered however this can cause more problems for other wildlife depending on the area.

The Mail: Cumbrian Red - Saving our red squirrels will be screened at Roxy Cinema and at the Forum TheatreThe Lake District has done exceptionally well in its efforts and it's looks like the future of Furness will see a rise of the reds.

The new Furness Squirrel Project will begin with a presentation of the film Cumbrian Red - Saving our Red Squirrel by award-winning filmmaker Terry Abraham.

Screening will take place on February 15 at the Roxy Cinema in Ulverston and on March 20 at Barrow's Forum Theatre. 

Anyone who would like further information on the Furness project can email southlakesrsgroup@btinternet.com.