Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Champion Wins Top Honours in National Awards

Renowned conservationist and red squirrel expert, Helen Butler from Ryde on the Isle of Wight is to be presented with a special award for her years of volunteering and dedication to the cause by the 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.

Founder and a leading member of both the Wight Squirrel Project (1993) and the Red Squirrel Trust (2005), Helen has been monitoring the Isle of Wight’s red squirrel population and raising public awareness over the past 20 years. She has also produced a number of books, as well as educational films.

“We are delighted to be able to recognise the hard work of the 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  

RSST                                                                     

4 East Bank House                                                          

Tide Mill Way                                    

 Woodbridge                                                                                                                                                   Suffolk  IP12 1BY

T: 07974 863633                                                                                                                                                     E:  Janet.wickens@rsst.org.uk                               

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 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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