Red Squirrel. Image by: Sheila Luck.
Water voles and red squirrels hoping for a Happy Christmas
This December, Northumberland Wildlife Trust is calling on members of the public to help it support two of the region’s fastest declining species - water voles and red squirrels - via the Big Give Christmas Challenge.
Both species are on the brink of extinction in the North of England due to the decline and loss of their habitats. Water voles having lost 95% of their range in the last 30 years and the plight of the red squirrels is widely known. Both species have suffered from loss of habitat and - are being threatened by the more dominant, invasive species American mink and grey squirrel.
With this in mind, the wildlife charity is continuing its work to reintroduce water voles and support the existing populations of red squirrels in the region’s landscape.
For the work to succeed, detailed evidence-based strategies are needed including co-ordinating and supporting volunteers to complete extensive surveys that will build a picture of the species’ distribution and habitats. The strategies will also highlight the challenges the conservation team will face to save them.
Water vole. Image by: Tom Marshall.
However, to achieve its goals, the Trust is taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge and hoping to raise £20,000 with help from the public.
Between midday on Tuesday 28th November and Tuesday 5th December any donation made will be doubled at no cost to the individual.
This year the donations are being doubled by a number of Northumberland Wildlife Trust donors and The Reed Foundation, so that’s one donation, twice the impact.
Catherine Kirkham, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Fundraising Manager says:
“We could not do any of our work without the support of generous donors, and, I know people may be feeling the pinch with continual price hikes, but we really do need everybody’s help to make these surveys happen.
“By supporting our water vole and red squirrel work, via the Big Give Christmas Challenge, you will be protecting these wonderful animals for future generations to experience first-hand rather than reading about red squirrels via Beatrix Potter’s Squirrel Nutkin book and water vole Ratty courtesy of Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows.”
Katy Barke, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Nature Recovery Manager says:
“Building on the success of our Restoring Ratty project, we are looking to expand our water vole work into other suitable areas of the county. To understand what’s needed to bring water voles back there, we need to carry out survey work for a number of years which will then help us prepare the ground.”
To find out more visit www.nwt.org.uk/big-give-christmas-challenge or to donate between 28th November and 5th December go to https://t.ly/xBH1H
The Big Give is the UK's number online match funding platform, specialising in bringing charities, philanthropists and the public together to multiply their impact.
Since it was founded in 2007, The Big Give has worked with philanthropists and the general public to raise £247 million for thousands of great projects - all through the power of match funding.