Red Squirrels in the UK: A Native Species Fighting for Survival

When Lake District farmer Sam Beaumont catches a glimpse of a red squirrel in the trees on his land, it is a moment of real pride.

“I feel very lucky to have them on the farm. It’s an important thing to try and keep a healthy population of them. They are absolutely beautiful,” he said.

Very few people in England can still enjoy this experience from their own homes. Once a common sight, the red squirrel has become one of the UK’s most endangered native mammals.

Historically, Britain was home to around 3.4 million red squirrels. Today, only about 287,000 remain. With their bright auburn coats, light frames and distinctive tufted ears, they are not only an iconic woodland species but also one whose decline is deeply felt.

The Impact of Grey Squirrels and Habitat Loss

The disappearance of red squirrels has been driven by two major factors: the spread of non-native grey squirrels and the loss of suitable woodland habitat.

Grey squirrels were introduced to Britain from North America in the late nineteenth century. Since then, they have spread across most of England, competing more successfully for food and carrying squirrelpox, a disease that does not harm them but is usually fatal to reds. As a result, red squirrels have been pushed into isolated strongholds.

At the same time, the ancient woodland that red squirrels depend on has been drastically reduced. This loss of habitat has made it much harder for remaining populations to recover and expand.

Today, around three quarters of the UK’s red squirrels live in Scotland. In England, numbers are thought to be as low as 38,900, with the Isle of Wight providing one of the last important refuges.

A New Squirrel Action Plan for England

The Government’s new Squirrel Action Plan is an important opportunity to change the future for red squirrels. The strategy focuses on restoring woodland, supporting landowners to manage grey squirrel populations and developing innovative approaches such as fertility control.

For conservationists and land managers, this recognition at a national level is welcome. However, long-term success will depend on sustained funding and practical support for the communities, farmers and volunteers who are already doing the work on the ground.

The nature minister, Mary Creagh, said: “Non-native grey squirrels cause huge damage to our trees and native wildlife. So we’re stepping up action to tackle their threat while protecting our iconic, endangered red squirrels. We’ll be working with landowners and conservation partners to better manage grey squirrel populations, and engaging in promising research into fertility control.”

Nature-Friendly Farming and Local Action

On his own farm, Sam Beaumont is demonstrating how nature-friendly land management can help protect native species. By improving woodland habitat and working closely with local wildlife rangers to monitor squirrel populations, he is helping to secure a future for reds in the landscape.

“He comes to the farm quite regularly and has put cameras up to monitor them,” Beaumont said. “And if there are any grey squirrels he will shoot them.”

Beaumont says it is vital to preserve the habitat for red squirrels.

“They love the ancient woodland, which has all the things they like to eat, like hazel and larch.”

Across northern England and Scotland, similar efforts are being led by dedicated volunteers and local partnerships. These grassroots projects are vital because red squirrels thrive best in areas where they can remain separated from grey populations.

Learning from the Past to Protect the Future

The presence of grey squirrels in Britain can be traced back to their introduction by wealthy landowners in the nineteenth century, when they were released in parks and estates as an exotic novelty. What began as a fashionable trend has had lasting ecological consequences, leaving the native red squirrel “on a knife edge” two centuries later according to Matt Larsen-Daw, CEO of the Mammal Society,

“What is clear is that in the last decade some areas where red squirrels were still present in the north of England have become increasingly vulnerable to encroaching grey squirrels, and are more vulnerable than ever,” he said.

“It is a constant effort to monitor and control grey squirrel numbers,” Larsen-Daw said.

However, some campaigners raise welfare concerns over what they believe to be a “demonisation” of grey squirrels.

There are, however, signs of hope.

Marie Carter-Robb, founder of Save Our Reds, said: “This policy statement is a welcome step forward, and it matters that it acknowledges both the scale of the problem and the role of volunteers on the ground.

“But a policy paper is not the same as protection. The question now is whether these commitments translate into measurable delivery in the woods, where red squirrel strongholds are still fragile, and where woodland quality and biodiversity must be protected as a matter of urgency.”

One “glimmer of hope” was the contraceptive vaccine, Larsen-Daw added. “This will not be available any time soon but innovative ‘gamechanger’ projects like this are the best chance for a long-term solution to grey squirrel presence,” he said.

The planned return of pine martens to parts of England could help restore a natural balance.

Reds evolved alongside this native predator and are better adapted to avoid it, while greys are more vulnerable.

This was good news, Larsen-Daw said. “It has already been shown that in Ireland and Scotland red squirrels have benefited when pine martens establish in their habitat, and it is hoped that the same will be true in England.”

The nimble reds were able to stay away from the pine martens, but the greys were “easy prey” for the carnivorous creatures, Larsen-Daw said.

He added: “Although it is hard to feel optimistic for the swift recovery of red squirrels in England, I do feel confident that the combination of research-driven solutions such as the fertility control vaccine, and the success with pine marten recovery, offers hope for the future.”

Securing a Future for Red Squirrels

Saving red squirrels in the UK will require a long-term commitment to woodland restoration, sustainable land management and community-led conservation. With the right support, it is still possible to expand their range and ensure that future generations can once again see red squirrels as a familiar part of our natural heritage rather than a rare privilege.

At Natural World Fund, the story of the red squirrel is a powerful reminder that the future of Britain’s wildlife depends on the choices we make about land, species management and habitat restoration today. Native species cannot recover once they are pushed beyond the point of survival, and the loss of ancient woodland and the spread of invasive species show how quickly ecological balance can be undone. Protecting and expanding the habitats that red squirrels and other wildlife rely on, supporting nature-friendly farming, and investing in long-term, science-led conservation are essential steps if we are to restore resilient ecosystems. By working together to bring back native woodland, back community conservation and rebalance our landscapes, we can secure a future where red squirrels — and the wider web of life they represent — once again thrive across the UK.