North East Red Squirrel Champions Honoured in National Awards
The work of two of the region’s hard working volunteers in the world of red squirrel conservation have been honoured with awards 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 preserve our native red squirrels.
Sally Hardy from Ponteland was joint winner in the category of Leading Light for the volunteers who take the red squirrel conservation message out into the community. Sally receives the award primarily for her work in helping to create Northern Red Squirrels (NRS).
As well as acting as co-ordinator for Ponteland Red Squirrels, Sally is a leading force in NRS, an umbrella organisation created to unite independent voluntary groups and individuals working to help save red squirrels from extinction in the UK. It is a network of voluntary action groups which share news, ideas and best practice, while remaining independent. Since its launch in March 2008, NRS has attracted over forty member groups.
Also to be recognised is Elizabeth Bamford from Berwick upon Tweed in the role of Unsung Hero. Elizabeth is lead volunteer for the Berwick upon Tweed Save Our Squirrels group. She and her band of helpers cover the lower Tweed Valley along the Northumberland and Scottish Border, an area which has specific difficulties being caught between two systems - one Scottish and one English, with differing grant systems, conservation agencies and legal requirements. Her work involves getting landowners, game keepers and volunteers together in the fight for the survival of the reds as well as fund raising.
“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, but the north of England is where the biggest battle is being fought. This work could not be achieved without the tireless work of our volunteers. Highlighting their contribution to red squirrel conservation 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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