Argyll Volunteer Honoured in National Red Squirrel Awards
The work of one of Argyll’s hard working volunteers has been honoured by national conservation charity, the Red Squirrel Survival Trust (RSST).
Launched last year, the awards, which are supported by HRH The Prince of Wales, are designed to reward the vast army of volunteers working around the country to protect our native red squirrels.
A keen member of the Loch Goilhead group in Argyll, Jimmy Simm has been working for over 10 years on red squirrel conservation. He was building rope bridges and talking conservation long before it became commonplace, and has devoted much of his later years to this work. Now retired, his enthusiasm continues. In this year’s awards he is names as one of the red squirrel conservation movement’s Unsung Heroes.
“We are delighted to be able to recognise the hard work of our volunteers with these awards,” said Miles Barne, RSST Chairman. “There are an estimated 3,000 volunteers involved in red squirrel conservation throughout the UK and this army of people has lead the way to protect a much loved and iconic species for many years. Highlighting their contribution is long overdue”.
The awards will be presented by His Grace the Duke of Northumberland at a special event to be held at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland on June 27th, 2012.
Contact details
Janet Wickens
4 East Bank House
Tide Mill Way
Woodbridge
Suffolk IP12 1BY
T: 07974 863633
Prue Jackson
Public Relations
RSST
T: 07968739117
E: pruejackson@denwickwaterside.co.uk
Notes for Editors
About the Red Squirrel Survival Trust
The Red Squirrel Survival Trust (RSST) is a UK charity established to ensure the conservation and protection of the red squirrel in the UK. Its Patron is HRH The Prince of Wales and its ambassadors are Alan Titchmarsh, Sir Chris Bonington and Eric Robson and Katie Hillier.
RSST works in partnership with dedicated and knowledgeable local groups around the country. It aims to protect red squirrels by keeping reds and greys apart, stabilising new and existing populations, funding research to secure the red squirrel’s long-term future and raising awareness of the plight of the red squirrel.
About red squirrels
Around 75% of the 120,000 red squirrels remaining in the UK are found in Scotland. In England, reds can still be found in Cumbria, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Merseyside and the Isle of Wight.
Reds died out many years ago from their former southern strongholds of Thetford Forest in Norfolk and Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. However, a project aiming to reintroduce the species to Cornwall is underway which hopes to bring red squirrels back to southern England in the next five years.
For more information about RSST, visit www.rsst.org.uk.
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