Inspired by the pioneering work of conservationist Roy Dennis, in 2016 Trees for Life started its Red Squirrel Reintroduction Project to create new squirrel populations across the north-west Scottish Highlands. We knew that reds used to live in this part of Scotland, but historical habitat loss and human persecution meant they had all but disappeared. However, on discovering that many areas of the north-west could indeed support the return of reds, we saw a rewilding opportunity. Improved forest cover and connectivity, plus the fact that invasive grey squirrels aren’t in the area meant the reds stood a good chance at thriving.
With the support and involvement of local communities and landowners, we created ten populations in areas including Golspie, Shieldaig and Letterewe.
In Golspie, there was significant interest in seeing reds reintroduced. We carried out three translocations between 2020 and 2022 - something positive for nature and people during the challenging pandemic period. Local resident Tony Mainwood recalls: “We were fortunate in having one of the release sites less than 200 metres from the garden and we quickly put up a feeding box and soon had squirrels coming to the garden. Two other households on our street did the same and we all exchanged anecdotes about what we were seeing.”
“Over the three years, sightings have been spread anywhere up to about three kilometres and have also become established in some other gardens with feeders. In the open woodland, sightings are relatively few and far between so it could well be that some have spread even further and become well established. There has even been a sighting in the pines within the Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve where they were regularly seen in the past.
“Good numbers of young have obviously been produced over the past three years and at the moment everything appears to be progressing very well.”
In 2023, we carried out a Highland-wide survey to assess the bigger picture, creating an up-to-date, comprehensive map that showed the scale and impact of the reintroductions while also providing a baseline for future reintroduction efforts. While similar studies had been carried out in other parts of the UK and Ireland, this was the first Highland-specific survey, covering a total land area of more than 25,000 square kilometres!
I’m thrilled to report that the survey results are better than we could have hoped. All 10 of the new populations are breeding and expanding into neighbouring woodlands. The Golspie population has indeed spread further north and into Brora. Many populations have joined, with others close to joining - such as at Plockton, Attadale and Reraig, where red squirrels are now found throughout the Kyle of Lochalsh peninsula and are spreading east back into the central Highlands.
Some reintroduced populations have joined with established red squirrels, with the populations of Spinningdale and Alladale merging with squirrels around Lairg. Recovering populations are spreading north and north-west to Rosehall, Oykel Bridge and into Sutherland. The survey also identified populations of red squirrels that were not previously known about, like the ones found in Morvich, south-east of Kyle of Lochalsh, which are not connected to the Glen Affric population.
A pioneering rewilding project that has created a case study for success, reds in the Scottish Highlands are doing really well. And the work doesn’t stop here. The results of the survey will help with future red squirrel conservation efforts, including helping to determine further reintroduction sites. This autumn we reintroduced reds to Arisaig, and in the spring we’ll release more to Drimnin on the Morvern peninsula. Two final locations are still to be decided on.
We couldn’t have completed the survey without the assistance and data provided by project partners Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, Forestry and Land Scotland, RSPB, Woodland Trust Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, British Trust for Ornithology, and iRecord.
A huge thanks also goes out to the local people and private estates who have provided such vital on-the-ground support, welcoming these wonderful animals into their local forests.
Our Red Squirrel Reintroduction Project is made possible thanks to the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) and Orp Foundation.