Wednesday 25 April 2012

Wildwood e-news April '12


Wildwood e-news April '12
 

1) Spring events at Wildwood
2) Job vacancies at Wildwood
 
3) New konik horse foals
4) Cute baby red squirrels

5) Birthday Parties at Wildwood
6) Conservation courses

7) Easter bunny trail winners announced
8) Animal of the month - Adder
9) Stuff we need - can you help?

1) Spring events at Wildwood

Spring events at Wildwood

 

We have lots of exciting events lined up this spring, including many free events!


Sunday 29th Apr - Leapers & Creepers! - FREE EVENT
What's the difference between snakes and slow-worms, or lizards and newts? Learn all about the fascinating world of reptiles and amphibians with our experts and meet some creatures who leap, creep, slither and slide!
11am-3pm. Free event. Drop in at anytime.

Sunday 6th May - Hare's Moon Night Tour
See our animals under the moonlight on a guided Night Tour of Wildwood. Night Tours coincide with the full moon, giving you a chance to see our animals at a time when the darkness belongs to them. Experience the wolves tracking you silently through the woods like silver shadows on silent feet. Hear the beavers splashing in their pond and spot the wild boar rooting under the pine trees.The tour includes a hot meal in our restaurant, served 30 minutes before the start of the tour. Tours are scheduled to last approximately 2 hours.
7.30pm-10pm. £25 per person (min age 10yrs). Must book.

Saturday 12th May - Birdsong Walk - FREE EVENT
Spring is the time when the woodlands come alive with the sound of birdsong. Listen to the spring symphony on a guided walk through the woodland and learn to identify key woodland bird calls with Natural Heritage Officer Steve Kirk. 
10am - 12pm.  Free event. Must book.

Sunday 13th May - Bee Day - FREE EVENT
Did you know we make our own honey at Wildwood? Visit our bee area to meet our resident bee-keeper and find out all about the fascinating world of bees and bee-keeping.
11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm.  Free event. Drop in at any time.

Saturday 19th May - Mammal Society Water Vole Course
Learn about water voles, how to identify water voles and their signs. Opportunity to handle a water vole under supervision. 
£95 per person / £120 organisations. 
Please book directly with the Mammal Society on 02380 237 874 or www.mammal.org.uk

Sunday 20th May - Be Nice to Nettles - FREE EVENT
We all know about the nettle's formidable stinging power, but do you know just how useful the humble nettle is? Learn about nettles throughout our history and we have used them for food, clothing and medicines with Natural Heritage Officer Steve Kirk. 
11am - 3pm.  Free event. Drop in at any time.

Sunday 27th May – Spring Tree Walk - FREE EVENT
Discover many of Kent's woodland trees and learn how to identify them on a 2-hour guided walk through the woodland with Natural Heritage Officer, Steve Kirk.
1.30pm - 3.30pm.  Free event.  Must book.

Tuesday 29th May - Photo Day 
Wildlife photography with tuition from our resident photographer. Learn how to get the most from your camera and enjoy exclusive access around the park with special animal feeds to help you get those close-up shots.   Over 18 unless accompanied by an adult who is also taking part in the photo day. 
10.30am - 4pm  £79 per person (min age 18yrs). Must book

 

2) Job vacancies at Wildwood

We have the following vacancies at the park. To apply, please visit our jobs page and download the job description and an application form.

Bookkeeper & Administrator

Function:                      Co-ordination of financial systems and administrative support
Responsible to:            Administrative Co-ordinator
Salary:                         £12,000 to £17,000 (+ 9% pension & other benefits)

The post holder will support a number of tasks that are crucial to the wellbeing of a growing organisation, notably financial & office management.  The post holder will work closely with the Administrative Co-ordinator to ensure sound financial administration and the smooth running of a busy office.

Specifically:

- To maintain the Wildwood procedures and systems and ensuring an efficient secretarial facility.
- Responsible for facilitating internal communications, particularly through the dissemination of all incoming communications.
- To maintain personal records, staff timesheets, produce letters of appointment and arrange advertisements and interviews.
- To assist with all financial administration, playing a key role in cost control and making financial systems effective.
- To ensure that Wildwood's health and safety arrangements are effective, consistent and well documented across the board.

The closing date is 11th May 2012. Interviews will be held by arrangement within 2 weeks of that date.

To apply, please visit our jobs page and download the job description and an application form.

Keeper / Senior Keeper  

Function:                     Care of the Wildwood animal collection & conservation projects
Responsible to:           Head Keeper
Salary Keeper:             £13,000 (+ 9% pension & other benefits)
Salary Senior Keeper:  up to £15,272 (+ 9% pension & other benefits)

This role will suit a fit, practical person who can work outdoors during all weathers doing a physically demanding job.

Specifically:

- Care for our collection of British native & once native wildlife.
- Build and maintain our natural woodland animal enclosures.
- Help educate the public through talks and demonstrations about our animals.
- Help our conservation projects to promote wildlife conservation.

 The closing date is 11th May 2012. Interviews will be held by arrangement within 2 weeks of that date.

To apply, please visit our jobs page and download the job description and an application form.

 

Water Vole Keeper (maternity cover)

Function:                      Husbandry of Wildwood's water voles
Responsible to:            Conservation Officer
Salary Keeper:             £11,364 to £13,174 (+ 9% pension & other benefits)

This role will suit a fit, practical person who can work outdoors during all weathers doing a physically demanding job.  You need to be able to work independently as well as part of the Keeper & Conservation team.

 Specifically:

- Husbandry of water voles in our conservation centre
- Captive breeding of water voles
- Preparation of water voles for reintroduction
- Trapping, monitoring and release of water voles

The closing date is 11th May 2012. Interviews will be held by arrangement within 2 weeks of that date.

To apply, please visit our jobs page and download the job description and an application form.

 

Cafe assistants (temporary summer cover)

Function:                     To assist in Wildwood's Beaver Lodge Cafe

Responsible to:            Cafe Manager

Hours:                         Temporary summer cover, flexible hours

Salary:                        on application


The Beaver Lodge Cafe is set amongst the ancient woodland of the Wildwood Park on Herne Common and, with a very busy summer ahead of us, we need your help!

If you are fantastic with customers and are willing to multi task behind the scenes too, please send your CV and a covering letter telling us why you'll be a valuable addition to our summer team

To apply, please email your CV and a covering letter to info@wildwoodtrust.org

 

3) New Konik horse foals at Wildwood

Raven

Welcome to Wildwoods' new cute wild horse foals

Wildwood is celebrating a boost to its conservation programme with the arrival of 2 beautiful wild horse foals. The first foal, a female, arrived in March and the second (a male) was born last week. Both can be seen exploring their enclosure at the park. Senior keeper Alan Keeling said "Spring is an exciting time of year when we have births at the park. Both foals are doing very well; they are strong and healthy and are mixing well with the rest of the herd."

Konik foals are able to stand as soon as one hour after birth and start walking and running soon after in order to keep up with the herd. New foals are weaned at around 2 months and are eating grass with the rest of the herd by 5 months. The foals are unlikely to be officially named as they will eventually be moved out of the park to join other herds in Wildwood's conservation grazing programme.

Wildwood's conservation grazing programme is a vital project that uses large herbivores as natural habitat managers. As Konik horses are extremely hardy they can be left to naturally graze over large areas with little or no human intervention. The horses clear scrub which boosts biodiversity by allowing plants that would otherwise be shaded out to flourish. Their dung also helps to attract new species; beetles and other insects lay their eggs in the dung, the resulting insects then provide food for many species of birds, which in turn can encourage the presence of birds of prey to the area.

The new arrivals are currently living with the small herd of horses resident at Wildwood, but most of our horses reside on nature reserves. Wildwood manages herds of Koniks on nature reserves around Kent, at Stodmarsh, Gibben's Brook, Wraik Hill and South Swale. There are public footpaths running through or past all four nature reserves so the horses can be seen by the public. Numbers of horses on the reserves varies as foals are born and horses are moved from one reserve to another in order to avoid inbreeding and to maintain harmony amongst the herd.

For more information on Wildwood's conservation grazing programme click here.

4) Cute baby red squirrels

Raven

The keeper team at Wildwood are celebrating as our red squirrel breeding progamme goes from strength to strength with a four babies born at the park.

The four new babies, the first of which was born at the end of March are now venturing out of their nest boxes and are Wildwood's first brood this year. After maturing at the park they will either be used for captive breeding or will be sent to a conservation site such as the island of Anglesey in Wales to live wild and free, helping form a buffer population to safeguard the species against national extinction.

Red squirrels went extinct in Kent in the 1960's but many people still remember them from their childhood when once many areas like Kent teemed with these beautiful acrobats of the trees.

Peter Smith, Wildwood Trust's Chief Executive said: "Red squirrels are one of the most beautiful animals in the UK but sadly they face extinction unless urgent action is taken. But it's not yet too late. If we can help restore areas of woodland to a native state and make a concerted effort, we might just be able to tip the balance back in the red squirrel's favour. Wildwood Trust, as a charity, is committed to restoring our native and once native species and will continue to champion the restoration of natural woodlands."

Don't forget to look out for the new arrivals on your next visit to the park!

 

5) Wildwood birthday parties

Raven

Celebrate your child's special day with a Wildwood birthday party and give them a day to remember!

A Wildwood party is the perfect way to celebrate your child's special day with VIP treatment, your chance to meet an animal and a fantastic birthday meal in our restaurant, the birthday group can then run off some steam in the play area or around the park.

Wildwood Birthday Parties include:

  • All day admission to Wildwood
  • A birthday meal in the Beaver Lodge restaurant
  • A meet an animal session at an animal enclosure
  • Free colouring sheet for every child
  • A cuddly toy gift from our shop for the birthday child
  • Free entry for 2 adults accompanying the party group

Birthday parties cost £10 per child (£7 for children who are members) and are for a minimum of 10 children. To remember your day, you can also choose to include birthday party bags from the Wildwood gift shop at a cost to suit you.

For more information visit our website:www.wildwoodtrust.org or call Laura in the shop on 01227 712 111.

 

6) Consevation courses announced

Wildwood has a new diary of conservation courses. More events are to follow - to keep up to date please click here to visit our conservation page


Saturday 19th May - Mammal Society Water Vole Course
Suitable for all levels of experience, this enjoyable, detailed and highly informative one day event focuses on one of Britain and Ireland's most iconic river dwelling mammals, the Water Vole. 
The course includes information on identifying Water Voles and their field signs, Water Vole habitat requirements, their ecology and their predators and threats. It also provides details on their legal protection and the necessary actions to ensure that those working in a riverside environment fulfil their legal obligations. The course will also include an opportunity to see captive Water Voles in situ at The Wildwood Trust and possibly handle and sex the Water Vole under supervision.

£95 per person / £120 organisations. 
Please book directly with the Mammal Society on 02380 237 874 or  www.mammal.org.uk

Sunday 24th June - Owl Pellet Analysis
Dissect owl pellets and learn to identify the small mammal remains inside. We have pellets for you to practice with or you may wish to bring along some that you have collected yourself.

9.30am - 12.30pm.  £20 per person. 
Please book with Tara Lines on 01227 711 471 or email 
conservation@wildwoodtrust.org

Saturday 7th July - Dormouse Handling and Surveying Workshop
A half-day course for consultants and those in training for their dormouse handling licence. Places are limited to allow each participant time to handle a number of captive dormice under supervision.

11am - 3.15pm  £40 per person. 
Please book with Tara Lines on 01227 711 471 or email 
conservation@wildwoodtrust.org

Sunday 15th July - Kent Mammal Identification Course
Learn how to identify our larger mammals form their tracks, signs and sightings. Please note that this course does not include mice, voles or shrews which are covered in the Small Mammal Trapping Workshop

9.45am - 4pm  £30 per person. 
Please book with Tara Lines on 01227 711 471 or email 
conservation@wildwoodtrust.org

Saturday 21st July - Mammal Society Dormouse Ecology & Conservation
This one day course is recognised as the definitive course on dormouse ecology and monitoring. Ideal for those with a general interest and those working towards their Dormouse Handling Licence. 
The course includes a visit to check nest boxes, information on relevant legislation and often the opportunity to handle dormice under supervision with guidance on best practice. Please note, this course involves field work which requires participants to have a reasonable level of fitness.

£95 per person / £120 organisations. 
Please book directly with the Mammal Society on 02380 237 874 or  www.mammal.org.uk


Saturday 28th July - Dormouse Handling and Surveying Workshop
A half-day course for consultants and those in training for their dormouse handling licence. Places are limited to allow each participant time to handle a number of captive dormice under supervision.

11am - 3.15pm  £40 per person. 
Please book with Tara Lines on 01227 711 471 or email 
conservation@wildwoodtrust.org

Saturday 18th August - Mammal Society Dormouse Ecology & Conservation

This one day course is recognised as the definitive course on dormouse ecology and monitoring. Ideal for those with a general interest and those working towards their Dormouse Handling Licence. 
The course includes a visit to check nest boxes, information on relevant legislation and often the opportunity to handle dormice under supervision with guidance on best practice. Please note, this course involves field work which requires participants to have a reasonable level of fitness. 

£95 per person / £120 organisations. 
Please book directly with the Mammal Society on 02380 237 874 or  www.mammal.org.uk

Saturday 8th September - Dormouse Handling and Surveying Workshop
A half-day course for consultants and those in training for their dormouse handling licence. Places are limited to allow each participant time to handle a number of captive dormice under supervision.

11am - 3.15pm  £40 per person. 
Please book with Tara Lines on 01227 711 471 or email 
conservation@wildwoodtrust.org


Saturday 22nd September - Mammal Society Dormouse Ecology & Conservation
This one day course is recognised as the definitive course on dormouse ecology and monitoring. Ideal for those with a general interest and those working towards their Dormouse Handling Licence. 
The course includes a visit to check nest boxes, information on relevant legislation and often the opportunity to handle dormice under supervision with guidance on best practice. Please note, this course involves field work which requires participants to have a reasonable level of fitness.  

£95 per person / £120 organisations. 
Please book directly with the Mammal Society on 02380 237 874 or  www.mammal.org.uk


For more information on our conservation services, please contact our team on 01227 711 471 or email: conservation@wildwoodtrust.org

 

 

7) Easter bunny trail - winners announced

Bunny trial prize

Congratulations to the Hammond family who are the lucky winners of this year's Easter Bunny Trail!  They win this fantastic cuddly bunny (pictured). We would like to say a big thank-you to all of our members and visitors that came to the park over the holidays, especially those who braved some pretty serious April showers - we hope to see you again very soon!

 

8) Animal of the month - Adder

Adders at Wildwood

The adder is one of only three native snakes in the UK, along with the grass snake and smooth snake. It is probably the most commonly seen British snake because when disturbed it's natural instinct is not to hide in the undergrowth, but instead to 'freeze' in self-defence and rely on its camouflage to keep it hidden. The best time to see them is in spring when they emerge from their hibernation dens. Adders are Britain's only native venomous snakes, although they will only use their venom as a last means of defence, usually if caught or trodden on.  Despite the reputation that comes with being a venomous snake, adder venom is designed to kill voles so only causes a bee-sting like inflammation in healthy adult humans.

Life as a reptile
Adders can be seen in a variety of habitats, from woodland to riverbanks. They eat small rodents, such as voles and mice, as well as lizards, frogs and newts and young birds from nests on the ground. When hunting, adders strike swiftly at the prey, injecting a deadly dose of venom.

The adder is occasionally confused with the grass snake but adders have thicker, shorter bodies and a distinctive zigzag stripe on their back. They are found in a wide range of colours, including all black. Females are usually brown with a darker brown stripe, males tend to be lighter in colour with a bold black zigzag. Adders are also sometimes referred to as common vipers or European vipers.

Like all reptiles in Britain, adders hibernate through the winter, generally from late September or early October to late February or early March. In spring adders disperse from their hibernation sites and spend lots of time basking in the sun. The males shed their skins at this time of year and mating also takes place. The adders then move to feeding sites for the summer.

Adder families
Warm spring days are a busy time for adders, with males looking for females and occasionally wrestling with other males for supremacy. After mating, females seek out a suitable place to give birth, often travelling up to 2 kilometres from their hibernation site. Young are born in late August or early September.

Unlike most reptiles, adders do not lay eggs. Young snakes are born live, about the size and shape of an earthworm, and are a perfect miniature of the adult snake. In the autumn, adult snakes will follow scent trails left by other adders to find their way back to the hibernation site, which is often used by many snakes over several years. The young adders tend to hibernate in the area where they were born, although the number of young which survive until the following spring will depend on the severity of the winter.

Adders At Wildwood
We have male and female adders at Wildwood. The females are stouter than the males and are more often seen basking in the sunshine. All our females are different colours; black, green, olive green and brown, all with brown zigzag markings. The males are yellow with a black zigzag on their backs. Our adders are usually active between April and September but if the day is too cold they will be hidden away and if the day is too hot they may warm up very quickly in the morning and then move into the shade.

Current Status of the Adder
Adders are found throughout mainland Britain, right up to the far north of Scotland, but they are not found in Ireland or the Isle of Man. Adders are still widespread and locally common, particularly in the southwest, although numbers are in decline. Habitat loss is the main threat to adder populations, from intensive agriculture, forestry and urban development. They also suffer from human persecution, despite being a protected species. Young adders are threatened by a variety of predators, including domestic cats, birds of prey such as the common buzzard and sometimes adult snakes. Others may be killed and eaten by rodents whilst in hibernation. Adders are protected by law against being killed or injured through human activity.

Mythology
Like many other snakes, the adder has been the subject of numerous myths, legends and superstitions. There are stories of female adders swallowing their young to protect them, but in reality this would not work as her strong stomach acids would digest them! The story probably arose when a pregnant female was killed with well-developed young inside her. There are also many superstitions regarding the adder as an omen, either of good or ill fortune. For instance, the ancient Britons believed that crossing the path of an adder would bring bad luck, whereas killing the first adder of spring would bring good luck. There are many mythical cures for adder bites. Of course, as adder bites are rarely fatal, these would often have appeared to work! Rubbing on the grease from an adder's body fat was supposed to work, as was killing the snake and rubbing it whole on the wound or even jumping over water within sight of the snake. Adders were also used to cure other ailments. Dried adder skins were wrapped around the relevant part of the body to cure rheumatism, thorn pricks and headaches. They were even added to soup into the early 20th century as a cure for constipation.

 

 

9) Stuff we need - can you help? 

As a conservation charity we love to recycle and can make use of lots of things that might otherwise go into landfill. We urgently need the following items for use around the park, if you can help please contact the office on 01227 712 111.

  • Large plastic storage boxes with lids - For use in our new conservation building.
  • Old sheepskin slippers or boots - for use by our educational workshops (sheepskin prefferred, faux fur OK).
  • Flatscreen TFT computer monitors - for use in the Wildwood office.
  • Glass fishtanks / vivariums (min 2ft long, lids not required) - for use in our conservation centre.

If you can help with any of the above items please contact the office on 01227 712 111. Anything you can help with will be gratefully received.

Many thanks,

Fiona Paterson

Wildwood Trust

Herne Common,

Herne Bay,

Kent

CT6 7LQ

Thursday 19 April 2012

School visits at Wildwood

School trips at Wildwood

Looking for an engaging school or group trip? Give your students the opportunity to get out into the woods and experience at first-hand the plants and animals to be found in their local environment.

 

From KS1 to A-level and postgraduate, we have options in all ranges; from nocturnal animals to variety of life, adaptation, animal homes and habitats, food chains, forensic science and practical woodland ecology . Our qualified, experienced tutors and fantastic educational resources make these curriculum-linked programmes come alive.

 

Wildwood's wide array of trees, plants and animals are here for you to study and our experienced tutors will ensure you get the most from your day.

 

Group rates are available for schools, colleges and organised groups. Teachers and group organisers are always welcome to visit the park in advance for a FREE pre-visit inspection, either independently or to meet the education team and discuss plans for their day.

 

Book your school / group trip now for these great benefits:

  • Prices start from just £4 per person
  • Curriculum based activities for all ages and abilities
  • Group activities from only £15
  • Free teacher pre-visit inspections
  • Free teacher places when you book any educational activity
  • £20 off coach hire with Kent Top Travel
  • Wildwood can design a day or activity especially for your school

 

To book an educational visit or for more details visit www.wildwoodtrust.org or e-mail education@wildwoodtrust.org

 

If you would like to speak to one of our lovely team, please call 01227 712 111

 

 

www.wildwoodtrust.org

 

Wildwood Trust, Herne Common, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 7LQ

Registered charity no. 1093702

 

 

Thursday 5 April 2012

Baby red squirrels at Wildwood

Visitors to Wildwood are in luck this week with the first sightings of our baby red squirrels.

The four new babies, the first of which was born on 27th March are now venturing out of their nest boxes for the first time and are Wildwood's first brood this year. After maturing at the park they will be released as part of Wildwood's red squirrel conservation project aimed at preventing their nationwide extinction by re-introducing red squirrels back to the UK.

Once grown up the squirrels will be sent to a conservation site such as the island of Anglesey in Wales to live wild and free, helping form a buffer population to safeguard the species against national extinction.

Red squirrels went extinct in Kent in the 1960's and many of us can remember them from our childhood and many areas like Kent once teemed with these beautiful acrobats of the trees.

Peter Smith, Wildwood Trust's Chief Executive said:

"Red squirrels are one of the most beautiful animals in the UK but sadly they face extinction unless urgent action is taken. But it's not yet too late. If we can help restore areas of woodland to a native state and make a concerted effort, we might just be able to tip the balance back in the red squirrel's favour."

"Wildwood Trust, as a charity, is committed to restoring our native and once native species and will continue to champion the restoration of natural woodlands."

Red Squirrels are just some of the huge range of British animals that can be seen at the Wildwood Discovery Park near Canterbury. For more information visit our website at www.wildwoodtrust.org or telephone 0871 782 0081.

Wildwood's 'Wildlife Conservation Park' is an ideal day out for all the family where you can come 'nose to nose' with British Wildlife. Wildwood offers its members and visitors a truly inspirational way to learn about the natural history of Britain by actually seeing the wildlife that once lived here, like the wolf, beaver, red squirrel, wild boar and many more.

Wildwood is situated close to Canterbury, just off the A291 between Herne Bay and Canterbury.

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Images attached

RED SQUIRREL FACTS

The Red Squirrel - Sciurus vulgaris

Recognition:

Fur colour variable from bright ginger through to red and dark brown or black tinged with grey in winter; larger ear tufts in mid-winter which disappear by the summer; bushy tail which bleaches white by late summer in some individuals.

Head/body length 180-240mm, tail about 175mm.

Weight: juveniles 100-150g; adults up to 350g.

General Ecology:

This is the only squirrel which is native to Britain. It is active during the daytime, though in summer it may rest for an hour or two around mid-day. Squirrel nests, or dreys, are constructed of twigs in a tree fork, or hollow or above a whorl of branches close to the stem of a conifer. They are lined with soft hair, moss and dried grass. Several squirrels may share the same drey, or use the same drey on different days.

Red squirrels spend about three-quarters of their active time above ground in trees and shrubs. Their main foods are tree seeds, such as hazel nuts and seeds from conifer cones. They also eat tree flowers and shoots, mushrooms and fungi from under tree bark. Red squirrels often suffer periods of food shortage especially during July. Red squirrels are at home in conifer forests and broadleaved woodland. The distribution of red squirrels has declined drastically in the last 60 years and they are now extinct in southern England except for a few on the Isle of Wight and two small islands in Poole Harbour. Elsewhere they are confined to rather isolated populations in Wales and to only four places in central England: Thetford Chase (East Anglia), Cannock Chase (Staffordshire), Hope Forest (Derbyshire) and around Formby in Merseyside. Red squirrels are still widespread in the North of England and Scotland, but even here their range is contracting.

Breeding can begin in mid-winter and continue through the summer, depending on the weather and how much food is available. Mating chases occur where several males follow a female who is ready to mate. During chases squirrels make spectacular leaps through the tree canopy and spiral up and down tree trunks. Females have one or two litters a year, usually of about 2-3 young. Juveniles are weaned at around 10 weeks, but do not breed until they are one year old. Red squirrels in favourable habitat can live at a population density of one squirrel per hectare of woodland. Often densities are lower than this. They survive for up to six years in the wild.

Conservation:

Red squirrels are protected by law, and may not be intentionally trapped, killed or kept, or have their dreys disturbed except under licence from English Nature (EN), the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) or Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

Red squirrels are considered vulnerable in Britain. However, very occasionally high densities in some Scottish forests can lead to economic damage to trees. In such cases, government agencies will assess whether to issue a licence to remove some of the red squirrels.

Historically, red squirrel populations in Britain have fluctuated widely, the species disappearing from many areas at times and recolonising at a later date. However, in the 1920s red squirrels began to be replaced by grey squirrels introduced to about 30 sites from eastern North America, between 1876 and 1929. Red squirrels seem unable to survive in the presence of greys, but the reasons for this are not fully understood. There is no evidence that grey squirrels aggressively chase out red squirrels, or that grey squirrels brought a disease with them from America which affects red squirrels. The key as to why grey have replaced red squirrels seems to be their ability to compete for food in different types of habitat. Red squirrels live in all types of woodland habitats from pure broadleaf, to mixed broadleaf and conifer, to pure conifer. However it is believed they prefer pure conifer forests because they can forage in them more efficiently and survive in them better than in broadleaf forest.

It is believed that the only real way to ensure the continued presence of red squirrels in an area is, if possible, to keep grey squirrels out, or, at least to keep their number low. This may be achieved by habitat management to alter the tree species composition and age structure of woodland to suit red but not grey squirrels. Special food hoppers which provide food for red squirrels but not the heavier grey squirrels, can help to tip the balance in favour of red squirrels. Re-introductions to large pine forests may be an important conservation tactic, although further research into the health and welfare of red squirrels during captivity and all phases of a reintroduction programme is needed.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE RED SQUIRRELS GONE?

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In the past red squirrels were common. Over the last few decades we have seen a dramatic decline in numbers of red squirrels.

The red squirrel is our only native squirrel species. This century it has undergone a drastic decline and is now mainly confined to northern England, Scotland and parts of Wales.

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The main cause of this decline is competition with the introduced American grey squirrel. The grey squirrel is larger than the red and better able to survive harsh weather and period of food shortage. It breeds more successfully and quickly out-competes the red squirrel for food.

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Historically, red squirrels frequented the whole of the British Isles which they recolonised after the ice age. Numbers and range have always naturally fluctuated, rising and falling in relation to food availability and climate. The major decline occurred in England during the 1940s and 1050s while the grey squirrel expanded rapidly at the same time. reasons for the red squirrel decline are competition with grey squirrels, disease, habitat loss and fragmentation.

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Numbers

It has been estimated that about 160,000 red squirrels remain in Great Britain. 120,000 of these in Scotland and 30,000 in England with 10,000 in Wales. There are an estimated 2.5 million grey squirrels in Britain. Populations of red and grey squirrels in Northern Ireland are currently changing. Distribution is known, however population estimates have not yet been considered.

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Habitat

Without competition red squirrels can thrive in broadleaved and coniferous woodland. However, where the two squirrels exist, the red squirrel in general survives in conifer woods only as it is more specialised to feed off smaller seeds. There are a number of locations in Scotland where red and grey squirrels have been known to exist for many years, this is probably due to the habitat types. To aid the red squirrel in the long term it is important that appropriate habitat management is practiced to allow red squirrels to survive in areas that would otherwise be taken over by greys. This is easier said than done and much research is still needed before we can fully assist the red squirrel within our conifer woodlands.

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OTHER RED SQUIRREL FACTS:

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· Red squirrels can also be black, brown, cream or have white tails

· They don't hibernate

· They can leap up to 6m from tree to tree

· Their ankles are double-jointed, which allows them to swivel their feet through 180 degrees, they have sticky pads on their feet and they wee on them to get a better grip - all to help them climb

· The wee also means they mark their territories with their scent wherever they go

· They also wipe their faces along branches to leave their scent

· Squirrels weigh nuts in their hands to see if they will make good eating - too light means the nut has shrivelled inside and is thrown away

· Whenever they bury a nut in the woodland floor after holding it in their mouths, they can find it again because it will be smeared with their own individual scent from a gland in their cheek

· They take fresh fungi into the treetops to hang up to dry and store for later

· Squirrels wrap themselves in their tails, both to keep warm in winter and to shade them from the summer sun

· Sometimes they can go bald in the spring because their winter coat moults before the new summer one has grown

· They store nuts in the ground in Autumn.

· Can swim.

· Eat seeds, buds, leaves, flowers, shoots and fruit of many trees and shrubs, fungi, insects and occasional birds eggs.

· Live in a drey made of twigs, leaves and moss built in a tree.

· Moult whole coat twice a year.

· Moult ear tufts and tail once in late summer.

· They can live to 6 years of age.

· Scientific name is Sciurus vulgaris.

· Have 4 fingers and 5 toes.

· They can hang upside down.

· Young are called kittens.

· Could have 2 litters each year with 3-4 kittens in each litter.

· Kittens are born blind, pink, hairless and toothless.

· Weigh 275 - 300 gms.

· Length - body 20 - 22cm, tail 17 - 18cm.

Fiona Paterson
Press Officer
Wildwood Trust

e-mail: fiona@wildwoodtrust.org

Tel: 01227 712111

www.wildwoodtrust.org

Wildwood Trust
Herne Common
Herne Bay
Kent
CT6 7LQ

Registered Charity No 1093702

Wildwood Trust is Kent's unique 'Woodland Discovery Park', a visitor attraction with a difference.

Wildwood is not only the best place to bring the family for a day out, but it is also a bold and innovative new charity, backed by the UK's leading wildlife conservationists. As a new charity Wildwood needs everyone's support in its mission to save our native and once native wildlife from extinction.

Wildwood Trust's vision is to bring back our true 'wildwood', a unique new way of restoring Britain's land to its natural state. This involves releasing large wild herbivores and developing conservation grazing systems to restore natural ecological processes to help Britain team with wildlife again.

The Wildwood 'Woodland Discovery Park' is an ideal day out for all the family where you can come 'nose to nose' with British Wildlife. Wildwood offers its members and visitors a truly inspirational way to learn about the natural history of Britain by actually seeing the wildlife that once lived here.

Set in a sublime 38 acres of Ancient Woodland, Wildwood offers visitors a truly unique experience. Come Nose to Nose with our secretive badgers, experience what it is like to be hunted by a real live pack of wolves, watch a charging wild boar or track down a beaver in his lodge.