Where to see red squirrels

Experts help Danielle Desouza spot this rare creature

Red squirrels have lived in the UK and Ireland for 10,000 years – but now this lovely creature is only found in limited areas. Larger grey squirrels have won the battle for food and habitat to replace their smaller bushy tailed cousins across most of England and Wales and The Wildlife Trusts movement warns: “Unfortunately, without conservation management, red squirrels could become extinct in England in approximately 10 years. Time is really running out to save our red squirrels.”

In Ireland, red squirrels have also faced difficulties and Katy Bell, senior conservation officer at

Ulster Wildlife, says they “have faced lots of problems across the UK and Ireland because of the introduction of the grey squirrel, which is an invasive species.”

Here’s a round-up of where you can find red squirrels in the UK and Ireland.

Ireland

Ulster Wildlife has two nature reserves, in Glenarm and Straidkilly in Co Antrim, where red squirrels can be spotted. They can also be seen in County Derry and County Armagh, Belleek Wood, County Mayo and Derryclare Nature Reserve, County Galway, where 19 red squirrels were initially introduced to the wood as part of a translocation project in 2005. Ulster Wildlife’s Katy Bell says: “In Northern Ireland, our red squirrels are doing quite well at the minute. They’re still in trouble definitely, but they are recovering. So we are seeing lots more of them pop up because of all the conservation work that’s being done.”

Scotland

The Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project was launched in 2009. Project manager Dr Mel Tonkin says: “Most of the UK’s red squirrels are found in Scotland and there are still many places to see them, from the country estates of the Scottish Borders to the Caledonian pine forests of the Highlands.”

She also says that red squirrels are returning to Aberdeen, and the city’s Hazlehead Park is a hotspot. To gaintheir attention, Tonkin says you can provide food such as “peanuts or shelled hazelnuts”.

England

Allen Banks and Staward Gorge, a National Trust property in Northumberland that features ornamental and ancient woodland, is a good place to search for red squirrels.

The National Trust has teamed up with Penrith and District Red

Squirrel Group to protect squirrel numbers around Aira Force, a 70ft waterfall in the Lake District. Meanwhile, the Isle of Wight has no grey squirrels (it’s an offence to introduce them there) and boasts a thriving population of around 3,500 red squirrels. Borthwood Copse, where paths wind through ancient oak woods, is a good place to look.

Wales

Sarah-Kay Purdon, mid-Wales red squirrel officer at The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, says that there are a few “pockets” left where red squirrels can be found, which include Anglesey and the Clocaenog Forest.

The National Trust has a walk at Plas Newydd House and Garden in Anglesey where nature lovers might see red squirrels, as well as breathtaking views of Snowdonia. Ms Purdon advises that people should look for uniform colour in the tail of a squirrel if they want to know if they have spotted a red.