Garden Red Squirrels

22/05/2026

Happy to see this years kitts, but also sad to see the sow red squirrels urging their kitts to move on and start their own independent lives on their own patch.
Only 1 in 6 red squirrels live to be 12 months of age (if they can't avoid squirrelpox then zero will survive) and healthy breeding females are majorly important to the survival of the species.
The sow will mate for a second time if she is healthy enough to cope with another litter this year, and moving her young on, although sad to see, is all part of the process.
We will hopefully have the kitts visit again in the future at some point if they visit their mothers patch.

24/04/2026

Exciting news!!
We knew there were kits in the dreys, as the females were showing signs they were feeding them, but they seemed to be late making an appearance.
Today that all changed, and we have seen a few kits exploring with their mother and playing with each other in the trees.
Always exciting to see them for the first time and hoping they can be successful and make it to adulthood.

22/04/2026

One of our garden red squirrels features on the cover and also a DPS, of Country Life Magazine Magazine.
The article writes about the recovery and fightback of the red squirrel and shares valuable information.
The magazine is available in good news agents and also online and worth getting a copy, to not only enjoy the magazine, but to let publishers know that the red squirrel is still loved and cherished by people and worthy of more coverage in magazines.

22/11/2025

Its a busy time of year for red squirrels as the temperature drops.

Our local residents are busy growing winter coats adn those beautiful ear tufts to keep warm.

10/10/2025

10/10/2025

It's Red Squirrel awareness week, and what has changed from last year?
The red squirrel is still under pressure of extinction, many of the schemes to help control grey squirrels are many years ahead, and the volunteers are still working their socks off, and if it was not for them, we would have no red squirrels left in the UK.
Wildlife Ark Trust are working hard to secure funding to attenuate a confirmed viable vaccine against squirrel pox, and this will be a great addition to the required tools that are needed to help save the species.

Learn about their work here:
https://www.wildlifearktrust.com/rescue-programme/

07/10/2025

Its thirsty work during Red Squirrel Awareness Week, and this female red squirrel makes good use of the garden tap.

04/09/2025

A red squirrel peeping out of a tree trunk, checking to see if those pesky tree surgeons have buggered off yet.
Far to many trees being felled in Formby at the moment, some for maintenance reasons, others by developers clearing sites.
It is a sad situation not only for red squirrel but for other species as well.
So much money reaches the so called 'main players', in red squirrel conservation, with seemingly little representation for them where it matters.
Below is a portion of the ecology report from the development either side of West Lane, Formby for 83 dwellings and a sports pavilion.
The risk of disturbing red squirrels according to the report is only likely to occur if the work is within 5m of a drey.
Where is the support and protection for these animals?
4.33 Development works could disturb red squirrel in the breeding season (February to September inclusive) if dreys are present within 50m of the works. If works are confined to the non-breeding season, then the risk of disturbing red squirrels is only likely to occur where works are within 5m, or one tree’s distance, of a potential drey location (whichever is less).

13/08/2025

A pair of juvenile red squirrels taking refuge in one of my squirrel boxes in the garden.

Our friends over at the Wildlife Ark Trust have re-commenced fund raising to fund a vaccine against squirrel pox.
Details >>>> https://www.wildlifearktrust.com/rescue-programme/

06/08/2025

What a day!!
Today we had sightings of not 1, 2, 3, or 4, but 5 young red squirrels in the garden.
Then later one of the adult female red squirrels turned up, still showing signs of having had young recently.
With an estimated 50,000 red squirrels remaining in England, they are on the cusp of extinction, seeing these today is a welcome and encouraging sight that they still have a chance.