Scottish
Squirrel
Group

The Scottish Squirrel Group (SSG)is a forum to facilitate the co-ordination of activities aiming to conserve the red squirrel in Scotland. The SSG was set up in 1996, following a forum on Squirrel Management in Scotland. It is currently co-chaired by Scottish Natural Heritage and the Forestry Commission Scotland, and comprises a number of statutory and non-statutory organisations, together with representatives of local voluntary squirrel groups dedicated to conserving red squirrels within their area. The following are currently represented on the Scottish Squirrel Group.

The Scottish Squirrel Group is represented on the UK Red Squirrel Group to facilitate the co-ordination of red squirrel conservation action throughout the UK.

Scottish Red Squirrel Action Plan 2006-2011

In February 2006, Scottish Natural Heritage hosted a conference to discuss the plight of the red squirrel. At this, the Scottish Minister for the Environment requested the preparation of a fully costed and integrated Action Plan setting out future action for red squirrel conservation. The Scottish Red Squirrel Action Plan 2006 – 2011 was published by SNH in July 2006. This now provides the framework for red squirrel policy development and conservation action in Scotland.

Scottish Squirrel Strategy

In February 2004, the Scottish Squirrel Group produced the 2nd edition of the Scottish Squirrel Strategy. This provides a framework for red squirrel conservation action across Scotland, identifying activities which can contribute to red squirrel conservation on both local and national levels. Copies of the document can be downloaded in PDF format from the Scottish Natural Heritage website.

Priority Woodlands Report

In 2003, Scottish Natural Heritage, on behalf of the Scottish Squirrel Group, commissioned a report on the Identification of priority woodlands for red squirrel conservation in North and Central Scotland. The report identifies 127 potentially important woodlands where targeted management could significantly benefit the local red squirrel population. The methods used to identify these woodlands reflected that used in other parts of the UK with modifications to take into account the different habitats occupied naturally by red squirrels in Scotland. These woodlands were ranked in order of compliance with the criteria giving an informal priority ranking across the country.

The south of Scotland was not included in the report as this process had already been completed by the Red Squirrels in South Scotland project (RSSS). Twenty red squirrel Priority Woodlands in south Scotland were established by September 2005 with site specific habitat management guidance reports planned for each in conjunction with forest managers and owners. These reports will include recommendations for management of the buffer zones and grey squirrel control. Co-ordination of effort between south Scotland and northern England is of paramount importance as some of the Scottish and English red squirrel priority woodlands, and their buffer zones, are contiguous.

Local Action

There is widespread support for red squirrel conservation in Scotland, reflected in the number of local volunteer groups which have been established. Local Squirrel Groups are present in Angus, Cowal, Highland, Grampian, Perthshire, Dundee, Central Scotland, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, Ayrshire, Borders and Dumfries & Galloway. Several groups are trying to secure funding for squirrel conservation work and staff, but at this time, full-time officers operate in Dumfries & Galloway and the Borders only.

Scottish Squirrel Co-ordinator Post

Due to the importance of the red squirrel in Scotland, the Scottish Squirrel Group have a survey co-ordinator to set up a rolling programme of survey of status and distribution of squirrels across Scotland, and to provide support and information for red squirrel conservation action across the country. The work is funded for three years by Scottish Natural Heritage and, primarily aims to provide a focus for implementation of the red squirrel species action plan in Scotland. To find out more about this project and how you can help please contact the co-ordinator:

Dr Mel Tonkin
Scottish squirrel Survey Co-ordinator
c/o Scottish Wildlife Trust
Cramond House
Cramond Glebe Road
Edinburgh EH4 6NS
http://www.scottishsquirrelsurvey.co.uk
Contact Number: 0131 312 4733

SSG Meetings

For the minutes of the latest meetings, please select from the list below: