Cumbria leads the way in National Award Nominations
A new national award scheme looking to recognising the achievements of the many volunteers who give up their time for the conservation of the much loved red squirrel has received an enthusiastic response in its first year with a number of nominations coming from the North West. The award scheme, which is being run by the Red Squirrel Survival Trust (RSST,) has been designed to reward the vast army of volunteers working tirelessly around the country to preserve the native red squirrel.
“There are an estimated 3,000 volunteers involved in red squirrel conservation across the UK. It is largely thanks to the dedicated efforts of these people that the fight to save the red squirrel from extinction is now in a position to succeed” said Miles Barne, Chairman of RSST. RSST Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales has called volunteers ‘the backbone of red squirrel conservation’ and is known to be a keen supporter of the new awards.
Among the regional nominations for the North West region is Chairman of the Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group, Robert Benson. For Robert boyhood years spent in Hampshire forged a love of red squirrels which has never left him. When greys started appearing in Cumbria in the 1980’s he started work, raising awareness of the threat, a role which he has continued for over 35 years, bringing landowners and others together in the cause. Another is Jerry Moss a red squirrel volunteer and who has been ranger at Centre Parcs in Whinfell Forest since 2004. He and his family are all devoted to red squirrel conservation and his partner is wildlife photographer, Sarah McNeil.
Susan Southworth, another nominee, is a staunch member of the Allerdale red squirrel group and has raised significant funds for their work over many years. Her recruitment efforts are varied and numerous ranging from Face Book pages to naming her tea room “Squirrels Pantry”.
Also in the running is Brampton based wildlife sculptor, Kirsty Kenny. Kirsty’s recent work includes sculptures of red squirrels Charles and Willow, and she donates a percentage of the profits from sales of these two to red squirrel conservation. These entrants run alongside many more in the region.
“Volunteers have been the backbone of much of the conservation work carried out on red squirrels and their decline over many years, be it fund raising, recording sightings and other data, trapping greys, feeding, or group administration and recruitment. Without all their efforts, all might well be lost. They are generally a modest group, and these awards are our way of offering some form of recognition and thanks for all their hard work. We are delighted with the response we have received and look forward to announcing the winners in March,” added Mr Barne.
Ends
Janet Wickens
RSST
4 East Bank House
Tide Mill Way
Woodbridge
Suffolk IP12 1BY
T: 07974 863633
Prue Jackson
Public Relations
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.
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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