This group works with another local wildlife group the Glenarm Wildlife Group to cover a vast area of the north-east of Northern Ireland.
Working on a variety of land including some Forest Service estate, golf courses, private estates and farmland. The group has recently established a partnership with Larne Borough Council further extending their range. The group are also working with Moyle District Council on similar projects. The Group was formed on Sunday the 13 January 2008 at a meeting in Glenariff Forest Park. The Glens Red Squirrel Group has in its constitution the following Objective:
“The Group is established to monitor and report the activities of the Red Squirrel in the Glens of Antrim. The Group will endeavor to protect the Red Squirrel and to provide whatever assistance possible to enable it to thrive in the Glens of Antrim.”In furtherance of these objectives the Group raises Public awareness of the plight of the Red Squirrel and educates and encourages young people in conservation of the “Reds” throughout the country.
The GRSG operates feeding/monitoring sites in:
The Group seeks support from all sources and areas. We are always in need of active “Field” people to go and survey and gather data. We also need people to:-
To date the GRSG has made a positive impact within the Glens of Antrim both in the increase of the actual number of Red Squirrel and also in the dedicated control of greys.
"This is the time to do something that will make a difference save the red squirrel for the next generation it is up to us.No one else can or will do it.".
Joe Dowdall
Chair GRSG, July 2011.
contact Joe via email: Chair@glensredsquirrelgroup.com
For further information please visit the Glens RSG website www.glensredsquirrelgroup.com
The Lagan Valley Squirrel GroupBelfast is the only capital city in the UK that still holds a red squirrel population. Working on the edge of the City of Belfast this group is trying to fight the tidal wave of grey squirrels that has marginalised the red population. Working closely with Forest Service on the Belvoir Park Forest Estate and the Lagan Valley Regional Park on the lands surrounding the River Lagan.
Contact LVRSG by email: belvoir_redsquirrelgroup@inbox.com
The West Tyrone Squirrel GroupThis is one of the newer groups lead by Omagh District Council Biodiversity Officer Julie Corry. The group are working at sites both in private ownership and some Forest Service owned land. The focus will Baronscourt and Drumquin and the area in between as most members are currently from those areas. Should interest arise in other areas the target areas could be expanded Contact Julie by email: Julie.Corry@omagh.gov.uk
The Derry and Strabane Squirrel GroupAnother group which started recently centred on the Londonderry City squirrel population, the group which is led by Derry City Council / Strabane District Council Biodiversity Officer Christine Doherty. The group’s membership has recently expanded to include interest outside the city and they are looking to work on a number of sites in the Strabane area. Derry City Council launched a Local Red Squirrel Group in September 2010, to help conserve the local red squirrel population. Over forty local people have joined the group and have formed a baseline with records from Culmore, Learmount Forest, Prehen Wood, St Columb’s Park, Gransha Wood and Muff Glen. If you would like to join the Local Red Squirrel Group or obtain further details contact Christine via email christine.doherty@derrycity.gov.uk
The Tollymore Red Squirrel GroupTollymore Red Squirrel Group has been established to conserve the red squirrels of Tollymore Forest Park.
Tollymore Forest Park is situated in the northern foothills of the Mourne Mountains in Co. Down, Northern Ireland, approximately 2 miles from the seaside town of Newcastle. The park is managed by Forest Service (DARDNI) and covers almost 480ha.
Red squirrels are known to have been present in Tollymore Park since 1880, but were probably there long before that. Grey squirrels arrived in the park in the mid 1990’s. In early 2004 it could be seen that grey squirrel numbers were dramatically increasing and that red squirrel numbers were in decline. Something drastic would have to be done if native red squirrels were going to survive in Tollymore Park.
The Tollymore Red Squirrel Group was formed in 2004 by a group of volunteers and Forest Service management and staff, united by a common concern – the loss of the red squirrel in Tollymore Forest Park.
A few years later the group was joined by personnel from Mourne Heritage Trust. The group is dependant on its partnership with Forest Service, who is the landowner of the forests in which it works.
Since 2004 the group has been actively involved in conserving as well as increasing the red squirrel population in Tollymore Park, by supplementing the red squirrels natural food and managing the grey squirrel population within the park. The group is also involved in educational activities with schools and the general public about the plight of the red squirrel, and takes part in various exhibition days and events throughout the year. Members of the group are also involved in monitoring and recording numbers of both red and grey squirrels within the park.
Tollymore Red Squirrel Group started off with only two red squirrel feeders in operation, and as the members grew in confidence and their numbers increased, they took on responsibility for more feeders.Today there are over sixteen supplementary feeders scattered throughout Tollymore Park and outlying forests.
Northern Ireland's newest red squirrel group was formed in early 2011 following two successful public meetings. The conservation of the Red Squirrel has gathered a lot of public and media interest in Co. Fermanagh and has the support of the local Forest Service office as well as environmental organisations such as the National Trust.
There are two 'Red Squirrel Preferred Areas' (RSPA) in the county - these are areas where there are red squirrels only and are largely conifer forests managed by the Forest Service. The Slieve Beagh Area in East Fermanagh and the large conifer plantations in West Fermanagh are the two hotspots for the county. Red squirrels certainly exist outside these areas and they also play an important role in maintaining populations.
This will be the first autumn/winter season for the FRSG. Winter 2010/2011 was record-breaking in terms of cold temperatures and its duration. Undoubtedly this was a very difficult time for all animals where long perma-frost conditions meant food was very difficult to access. As we now have members monitoring their local forests, we will be able to support these red squirrel populations through supplementary feeding. However, there are still large areas left unmonitored so we are continuing to look for new members to take on areas in their locality that we have few or no records for.
The FRSG is currently facilitated by Fermanagh District Council and the Local Biodiversity Action Plan Project although we hope that in the future the group will have the confidence and leadership to become an independent group. All FRSG meetings are open to everyone, whether you want to become a member or simply want to learn more about red squirrel conservation activities. To find out more, please contact the Biodiversity Officer at tel: (028) 66325050, email: rose.cremin@fermanagh.gov.uk or follow the Red Squirrel link from Fermanagh District Council’s website www.fermanagh.gov.uk/biodiversity
All the groups would hapily welcome more support, but there are areas where we need more squirrel volunteers There are still red squirrels on the Ards Peninsula which would benefit from a volunteer group working with the local owners to remove greys.
South Armagh some quite healthy pockets of red squirrels and we would certain love to hear from people interested to help conserve them in this area.
East Londonderry, Limavady and Colerine have had red squirrels in their forests in good numbers until recently, the decline is probably due to increasing grey squirrels, but potential for healthy red populations remains.
There is potential to bring back red squirrels to many parts of Northern Ireland if the grey population is severely reduced. The NISF and NIEA would welcome and support anyone interested in developing a volunteer group.
Contact Jon Lees on (028) 9056 9551 or email Squirrels@doeni.gov.uk