© Peter Cairns/2020VISION
Raise for Reds
This Red Squirrel Awareness Week, we’re asking for your help to protect one of Britain’s most loved and most threatened animals – the red squirrel.
Across northern England, red squirrels are in crisis. Habitat loss, competition from greys, and deadly squirrelpox mean that without continuous and extensive conservation, they could be lost from the region within just 10 years. But together, we can change their story.
How your gift helps
| Donation | Impact |
|---|---|
| £8 | Builds and installs a woodland squirrel feeder to monitor local populations |
| £20 | Provides 20kg of squirrel feed, helping reds survive year-round and supporting essential monitoring |
| £100 | Funds a high-quality wildlife trail camera to track populations and effectively target conservation efforts |
| Custom amount | Every gift, large or small, directly supports the survival of red squirrels and the habitats they rely on |
Latest survey results – the challenge in numbers
Every spring, our volunteers and staff carry out one of the UK’s largest squirrel surveys — and the initial 2025 results are a stark reminder of why red squirrels urgently need our help.
- Red squirrels were detected in just 42% of areas surveyed — a 10% drop compared to 2024.
- Grey squirrels were found in 64% of areas, now dominating far more of our woodlands than reds, however we also saw a 4.7% drop of greys in woodlands compared to 2024.
- In many woods, reds and greys overlap, which increases the risk of deadly squirrelpox virus spreading.
While both species showed slight declines overall, the sharper fall for reds shows the importance of continued effort and fundraising across the region.
Raise for Reds
Friends of the Red Squirrels – ongoing support
Your one-off gift can make a difference today — and by becoming a Friend of the Red Squirrels, your support can protect reds all year round. Thank you if you're already a Friend of the Red Squirrel member.
As a Friend, you’ll:
- Receive updates on how your gift is making a difference
- Help fund monitoring, feeding, and habitat protection throughout the year
- Join a community committed to keeping woodlands alive with red squirrels