Wales Red Squirrel Conservation Plan launched
A new conservation plan for the red squirrel in Wales has been formally launched this week. The plan as been jointly approved by Environment Minister Jane Davidson, and Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones.
The plan represents the culmination of many months of hard work by all parties with an interest in red squirrel conservation in Wales, including the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and Brecknock Wildlife Trust.
The plan formally recognises the importance of the three main populations of red squirrels remaining in Wales: in Anglesey, Clocaenog Forest, and the Tywi Forest in mid Wales. This latter population has been the subject of study and conservation action since 2002 by the Mid Wales Red Squirrel Project, of which WTSWW is a member.
This is a particularly significant moment for the mid Wales red squirrel population, which previously had not received the funding and conservation interest of the other two focal sites in Wales.
Some of the key work that should result from the actions identified in the plan includes further research on both the focal sites and the smaller, less well characterised populations that may remain elsewhere, the production of management plans for focal sites such as mid Wales, and to establish community groups to help support the work already being undertaken by the existing red squirrel conservation projects.
WTSWW will continue to work hard through the Mid Wales Red Squirrel Partnership to progress the conservation of the red squirrels in mid Wales, and the adoption of this key document is another good step along the road to preserving the red squirrels in Wales for future generations.
For more information on the Mid Wales Red Squirrel Project, visit here
(photo credit Elliot Smith)
Mid Wales Red Squirrel Project
WTSWW have continued to contribute to this important mid-Wales project, with involvement from Lizzie Wilberforce (WTO Carmarthenshire) and Em Foot (WTO Ceredigion). The project has recently been successful in receiving a grant of around £15,000 from the People’s Trust for Endangered Species. This will allow the group- which also includes Brecknock Wildlife Trust, CCW, Forestry Commission, Carmarthenshire, Powys and Ceredigion County Councils and private foresters, to pursue red squirrel conservation in mid Wales in the coming year.
We will be actively involved in survey and trapping work, with the aim of finding out more about the population of red squirrels in mid Wales and their genetic makeup. We will also be undertaking habitat survey work, for which we will need volunteers- anyone interested in getting involved should get in touch with Lizzie on l.wilberforce@welshwildlife.org We will also be arranging a number of education days for local schools, to get children from the immediate area outdoors to look at red squirrel habitat and understand a little more about their very special neighbours. The project ran a similar education day in 2008 with schoolchildren from Cilycym and Cynghordy which was a great success, and giving us great enthusiasm to expand our education programme.
Meanwhile, the group also continues to work with private landowners and Forestry Commission Wales to try and secure forest management practices and plans in the mid Wales area that will favour red squirrels, as well as delivering the woodland owners’ commercial needs. This includes retention of key species such as lodgepole pine that provide critical food resources for the red squirrel- and influencing the felling plans to retain habitat connectivity. This is, of course, an ongoing process- so watch this space!