Providing nests for the endangered animals is just part of the work being done by red squirrel ranger Joshua Adams thanks to an initiative backed by the Cumberland Building Society.
Last year, the Cumberland funded squirrel conservation work with Cumbria Wildlife Trust which enabled them to employ Joshua to monitor and protect red squirrels in their Lakeland heartland between Grasmere and Grizedale.
The Cumberland has now committed to supporting Cumbria Wildlife Trust for a further year with a donation of £21,500.
Joshua said: “These squirrels wouldn’t be here without The Cumberland’s support. Last year, at the start there were only four red squirrels in this area but by July the woods were awash with reds.
“Sadly, the bad weather in December cost the squirrels dearly and we were back down to a small population. However, this highlights the importance of this work, without the Cumberland’s support, there wouldn’t be any squirrels to start again with.”
Joshua has been installing specially designed red squirrel boxes at High Close Arboretum, Loughrigg, Ambleside, with the help of a team from the Cumberland.
Debbie Shearer, Head of First Line Risk at the Cumberland, said: “It’s incredible to be able to come and spend time with Josh and see his passion. It’s uplifting to observe the difference this funding is making to the future of these beautiful creatures. I can’t think of a better way to spend time than in this fabulous place.”
The nesting boxes, which are lined with comfy moss by the volunteers, are specially designed for red squirrels and are too small for the greys which pose the biggest challenge to the native reds.
The larger grey squirrels compete with the reds for food and, more dangerously, carry with them squirrel pox which is fatal to red squirrels.
Without the nesting boxes, red squirrels may be tempted to move into an abandoned grey squirrel drey which could be contaminated with the deadly pox. Reds often move their kits to a new drey if they feel threatened, so they could be in several nests over a season before the youngsters are mature enough to survive on their own.
Tackling squirrel pox is also why Joshua monitors the woods daily using wifi cameras and a network of local volunteers he has recruited to report squirrel sightings. When a grey is spotted" Joshua will report it to the local volunteers and community and take appropriate action, most importantly, removing food and sanitising any feeding areas.
“This conservation work relies on good information about where the reds are living and visiting,” added Joshua.
He also uses thermal imagery to monitor which boxes are being used by nesting squirrels and often spends nights in the woods to observe the animals at dawn and dusk.
Hazel Jones, Head of Fundraising at Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said: “From our point of view, it’s fantastic to have someone like Josh here full-time for another year – it’s so important for the squirrels. And his work doesn’t just benefit red squirrels, it benefits a range of other species that thrive in this environment. We’re grateful to the Cumberland for this support.”