SEBG News
Estates at forefront of red squirrel conservation
31st January 2006
Scotland's progressive rural estates yesterday joined forces with the Scottish Executive in its drive to preserve Scotland’s red squirrel population. Deputy Environment Minister Rhona Brankin visited Atholl Estates
in Perthshire which is participating in a nationwide survey of red squirrel
sightings. The Deputy Minister joined schoolchildren on the Estate’s
specially constructed mile long “Red Squirrel Trail”, a walking
route with special squirrel feeders that enable visitors to watch red squirrels
in the wild.
The Estate, a member of the Scottish Estates Business Group, uses a number of methods to protect the vulnerable species and monitor their numbers on the Estate. Andrew Bruce Wootton, General Manager, Atholl Estates, said: “Atholl’s woods are very good for seeing red squirrels. We have a good mix of tree species, which provides plenty of food sources for the red squirrel. The red squirrel’s main diet is cones and as our various species of conifers cone well in different years, the squirrels have a constant source of food. We also have many nut bearing trees, which also provide the red squirrel with an ideal habitat.” “We carry out monthly monitoring on squirrels on two transects, in which we record sightings, feeding signs and dreys. Conservation is at the core of what we do as an Estate and we are supporters of the European Red Squirrel Initiative and our local squirrel groups.”
Buccleuch Estates, also an SEBG member, and is proactive in protecting red squirrels on the areas it manages. Richard Williamson, the Estates’ Director of Strategy, said: “We cannot exterminate grey squirrels - the recognised cause of the decline of red squirrels - but we can control them. “Greys don’t fight reds, rather they eat them out of house and home, therefore we need to provide reds with suitable habitats and put in place suitable methods to control greys. This can only done by co-operation between private organisations and public bodies. Estates, with their holistic approach to land management and conservation, are well placed to contribute and assist in this important work.”
SEBG members are among the areas participating in Scottish Natural Heritage’s Scottish Squirrel Survey which encourages all to report sightings of squirrels so that an accurate map of the distribution of both species can be built. This information will be used to assess the health of Scotland’s red squirrel population and allow SNH to counter any decline.
