Help us to monitor and conserve our squirrel population.
Photo credit - Brian Clasper
Red squirrels are one of the UK’s most charismatic woodland creatures. Sadly, their populations have declined dramatically across much of the UK, primarily due to habitat loss and competition from the non-native grey squirrel. This makes spotting a red squirrel a rare and truly special experience.
Kielder Forest is the largest red squirrel reserve in England and provides a sanctuary where these lovely animals can thrive. Its coniferous woodlands create the ideal habitat, supporting a high density of red squirrels and giving visitors a great chance to see them in the wild. While red squirrels can also flourish in broadleaf woodlands, conifer forests act as a natural refuge from invasive grey squirrels, which struggle to become established in this environment.
Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE), a project of the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, undertakes a large-scale spring monitoring programme each year. This survey tracks changes in red and grey squirrel distribution, providing vital data to guide conservation strategies and measure the success of ongoing efforts.
Last year’s results from the Kielder stronghold were particularly encouraging. Red squirrel occupancy was the highest recorded since the programme began in 2012, with them spotted in over 60% of survey sites.
When visiting Kielder, keep your eyes on the treetops—you might be lucky enough to spot one of our elusive reds. Red squirrels are active all year, but sightings are most frequent during the autumn, summer and spring months, especially early in the morning or at dusk. Kielder offers excellent opportunities to witness this magical wildlife experience.
If you spot a red squirrel in Kielder, you can report your sighting through the RSNE website or contact the local red squirrel group in the area to contribute to ongoing conservation efforts.
Report Sightings – rsne report a sighting page
Squirrels – Northern Red Squirrels – northern red squirrel page (red squirrel community groups)