“The dedication of a small number of volunteers, combined with making use of any available funding and PR has enabled this group, along with other local groups in Cumbria, to justifiably claim not only have held the fort but to have actually pushed the greys back.

The key to this success has been the development of a partnership between the fantastic volunteers, a grey reporting service co-ordinated by NRS and the use of SOS’s Cumbrian officers, who also arrange meetings and provide education and PR throughout the county. This is now combined with RSST and the timely support of The Prince of Wales. Because there are two designated Refuges in the area, we can also access funding for traps, bait etc via the Forestry Commission. Lastly, there is the magnificent and vital input of Center Parcs Holiday Village who recognised the importance of the red squirrel in employing a full time squirrel ranger in the Whinfell Forest buffer zone.

However, we still have landholdings which we do not have access to. The support of landowners is paramount and sadly too many are relying on their keepers to do the job. In many cases this simply isn’t happening. Keepers, who understandably do not always welcome access to others, simply do not have the time to carry out concentrated trapping and shooting. Such areas are providing reservoirs for grey. Although setbacks have been experienced I firmly believe that we can achieve our aim of returning Cumbria to a red squirrel county.”