Wales
Squirrel
Forum

The Wales Squirrel Forum (WSF) and Wales Squirrel Partnership (WSP), aim to enable effective red squirrel conservation and grey squirrel management in Wales. The Wales Squirrel Forum is made up of statutory, non statutory organisations and local groups and aims to co-ordinate, support and provide advice on the implementation of the UK Red Squirrel Species Action Plan in Wales and reports to the Wales Squirrel Partnership. The Wales Squirrel Partnership provides a mechanism for information exchange and networking and membership is open to those with an interest in red squirrel conservation and grey squirrel management in Wales.

The ecological replacement of red by grey squirrels, as seen throughout the UK, has left the Welsh red squirrel population highly fragmented and largely at risk of extinction. Estimates suggest that as few as 1000 adult red squirrels remain in Wales (Shuttleworth, in press).

A Wales Red Squirrel Strategy was produced by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) in 1999 to highlight the priorities for action (Warren and Matthews 1999). A Wales Red Squirrel Conservation Plan, to replace the Strategy, has been drafted and should be issued shortly. An assessment process for focal sites for conservation action in Wales has been prepared and sites are currently being reviewed.

The main sites for red squirrels in Wales include the central region (Tywi/Irfon/Crychan forest complex); Clocaenog in North Wales and Anglesey. These areas are all primarily commercial woodland plantations partially or fully owned and managed by Forestry Commission Wales.

Terms of Reference for the WSF

The Wales Squirrel Forum aims to enable effective red squirrel conservation and grey squirrel management in Wales. In doing so, the Forum also aims to co-ordinate, support and provide advice on the implementation of the UK Red Squirrel Species Action Plan in Wales.

The functions and operation of the group are set out in our Terms of Reference (PDF 31 kb).

Mid Wales Red Squirrel Project

The Mid Wales Red Squirrel Project is working in the mid Wales forests to investigate further the presence and genetic make-up of the red squirrel population that is known to exist there. The project built on previous survey work undertaken by CCW. It is a partnership project between the Wildlife Trust, CCW, FCW, three local authorities, private woodland managers and local volunteers.

Since 2004 trapping surveys have been carried out at sites within coniferous plantations in forests which together cover 3500 ha of uplands and steep river valley sides. A recent assessment of the habitat has also been undertaken to inform further survey. Leaflets have been produced and walks held, along with training for volunteers and even a red squirrel ale produced by a local brewer to promote the project!

Targeted trapping programmes have resulted in 32 red and 121 grey (from all sites) squirrels being caught. DNA analysis revealed four different mitochondrial DNA haplotypes within the mid Wales population. Three of the four haplotypes had been previously recorded in Wales. However, this was the first time their presence had been recorded within a single locality and two of the haplotypes would appear to be unique to the mid Wales population. It is thought that red squirrels in Wales belong to a relatively narrow lineage that may include an ancestral Welsh population. The results of genetic analysis have implications for both the conservation of local populations and the conservation of red squirrels in Wales as a whole.

Grey squirrels were present in various densities in project areas with approximately half of the greys trapped being seropostive for the squirrelpox virus. It is of concern that some greys trapped were caught in remote areas where greys would not be expected in such numbers - 8 km from nearest broadleaved woodland. In addition some females caught were very large (>800 g) and possibly pregnant. The previously thought opinion that they enter and leave the conifer blocks may not be true here given the fact that possibly pregnant females were present.

Further survey work is required but ultimately, it is the management of the forestry that has to be addressed, as it is this factor that is critical to the survival of our red squirrels. We have to influence forest management and work much more closely with forest managers to maintain suitable habitat for the reds and reduce future risk from the greys, which appear to have reached further into areas of the forest than had been anticipated.

The group has the following recommendations and are seeking to address these at the moment:

* That Tywi Forest be designated a Red Squirrel Reserve with red squirrel conservation as one of its major objectives for future forest management. We acknowledge that forest managers (public and private) have other, sometimes, conflicting management objectives but the Project feels strongly that red squirrel conservation can be a primary management objective alongside other management/conservation targets.

* Focal areas for reds identified within the forest should be managed primarily for red squirrel conservation with appropriate buffer zones and connectivity between areas.

* There should grey squirrel control within forest with a target of eradication of grey in focal areas and constant control effort within buffer zones. Corridors of likely encroachment into focal areas should be targeted.

Forest management should seek to ensure that the red populations in Tywi forest are maintained and enhanced through an increase in area of suitable habitat in core red areas (i.e. an adequate range of preferred trees species of sufficient age to optimise cone and seed production) and the maintenance and improvement of connectivity and prevention of fragmentation of habitat containing the remaining populations.

Clocaenog

A study of the squirrel population at Clocaenog between 1994 and 1999 showed that red and grey squirrels coexist in the forest with red squirrels favouring certain species of conifer (Scots pine, Norway spruce and Japanese larch). Grey squirrels were mainly resident in broadleaf areas except in years of high conifer seed production, when they moved into coniferous areas to feed, particularly Norway spruce. Sitka spruce provided a poor quality habitat, although red squirrels used it particularly if in mixture with other conifers. In contrast grey squirrels were less likely to use Sitka spruce even in mixtures and hence and it may be an effective buffer zone against grey squirrel incursion. Management recommendations emphasised the importance of Scots pine, Norway spruce and Japanese larch and the careful management of thinning and clear felling. A summary report on this and a similar study in Craigvinean Forest, Perthshire will be available soon.

At present a red squirrel conservation management project aims to provide improved guidance on the management of conifer forests for red squirrel conservation, including when and how grey squirrelcontrol should be initiated and to assess the potential for providing a public viewing area, where red squirrels could be see at a feeding station. The project will also investigate red squirrel densities and dispersal; monitor grey squirrels and the presence of squirrel poxvirus and investigate coning cycles.

Anglesey Red Squirrel Project.

The control and monitoring of grey squirrels has been carried out on the island of Anglesey since 1988. Grey squirrels were eradicated from the Mynydd Llwydiarth Forest and the small (c. 40 animals) remnant red squirrel population initially responded positively with favourable rates of juvenile recruitment. Adult numbers peaked at 90-100 during 2002, and animals re-colonised two adjacent broadleaved woodlands. However, the population has recently declined in response to poor conifer seed crops. Consequently a program of supplementary feeding using hazel nuts was initiated during the winter 04/05.

Genetic studies indicate that the Mynydd Llwydiarth red squirrels all share a single mitochondrial haplotype, which is unique within the UK. Extant specimens from Plas Newydd (a 20 year old skin) on Anglesey and from mid-Wales (a recent road kill) were also each found to have unique haplotypes. A second Anglesey skin, this time from Bodorgan near Newborough forest, was found to be the same type as that of the Mid Wales specimen. The three haplotypes appear to be closely related and their nearest relatives in the UK are found on the Isle of Wight and Jersey. There is evidence suggesting that these squirrels may be related to the original native UK race of red squirrel, which was thought to have been lost due to the frequent use of continental red squirrels within historical re-introduction programmes.

Red squirrels were present in Newborough forest on Anglesey until the mid 1990s. The Corsican pine plantation is now the location of a red squirrel re-introduction. Five large captive breeding enclosures were constructed during 2003. Red squirrels ere then sourced through the UK Captive Breeding Stud Book which is administered by the Welsh Mountain Zoo. In May 2004, three adult red squirrels were radio-collared and released into the forest and these produced seven wild-born young. Breeding was also successful within the enclosures where an additional sixteen young squirrels were born last year (2004). In 2002, almost five hundred grey squirrels were caught in the forest, whilst in 2004 only ten were found.

The seven hundred and fifty hectare forest is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (for dune habitats, shore dock and petalwort) and is adjacent to a National Nature Reserve (NNR), all designations to protect the site and ensure it is in a favourable conservation status. The Forestry Commission with CCW are undertaking a public consultation process to consider options for the future management of the forest following earlier proposals that a core area of woodland be retained and managed as continuous cover, whilst trees from the coastal fringe are removed to restore the sand dune habitat. Further information can be found on the Forestry Commision website.

Local Groups & Contact Points

WSF Minutes

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

Wales Squirrel Parternship (WSP) Minutes

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