Formby squirrels, a sad tale

[d70mpv]

Having a bit of time off at the moment I was wanting to fulfill an ambition to see some Red Squirrels at first-hand. I've heard that, in England, Formby near Liverpool is one of the best places to do this. Having heard of the recent squirrelpox outbreak at Formby I thought it was best to give them a call before driving the long way from the SE. I almost wish I hadn't...

Having spoken to a National Trust representative today he said that the squirrel population has plummeted ~60% in the last few months since the outbreak took hold last November. Sightings are now a rarity compared to previously when they weren't quite 'falling out of the trees', but the population size meant that sightings (and therefore photography potential) was exponentially greater. The fear now is that the Formby site will go the way of other NT properties and lose its red squirrel population entirely.

This is clearly terrible news, not only for the already shrinking biodiversity of the UK but also for those of us that enjoy the challenge of trying to capture the beauty of the natural world through the medium of photography. We can only hope that a resistant population eventually emerges though whether the reds will have chance to adapt to the virus (that seems to be spreading at speed) is unclear.

I'm therefore keen to know if there are any other good sites to see reds in England, the closer to the South East the better really. I know this is a tall order! I'd love to see these iconic animals before they exit the UK for good.

Sorry to put a dampner on the days' proceedings, I thought it was important to let everyone know if they were wanting to travel there in the near future like me.

[richardkm]

Isn't there a good population on the Isle of Wight?

[Tobyh]

I don't think it's quite the Isle of Wight but on Brownsea Island in ..Hampshire? I'm in the south east also and would guess thats a couple of hours drive. Unsure of just how much of a population there is though.


TobyH

[Ukwildlifeo]

Isle of wight definately ahs red squirrels. Not sure on the best place to see them there though.

[GuyF]

That's a real shame, I'd never visited but from what I've seen on here Formby looked like a great place.
I would recommend Brownsea Island (Dorset) for Red Squirrel photography, I think you may have to be a bit more patient and you may have to look a little harder than at Formby, but you are virtually guaranteed to see them if you walk round the reserve part of the island, particularly in the autumn.
Guy

[HowlinWolf]

The last I heard, Parkhurst forest on the Isle of Wight has Red squirrel. GuyF is correct in pointing out Brownsea Island in Poole harbour, as a good place for the Red squirrel.

HW

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by HowlinWolf

The last I heard, Parkhurst forest on the Isle of Wight has Red squirrel. GuyF is correct in pointing out Brownsea Island in Poole harbour, as a good place for the Red squirrel.

HW

Parkhurst Has got red squirrels, but we didn't see one when we went a few years ago.

[RobinP]

I have seen Red Squirrels on the Isle of Wight at a) Osborne House b) Ventnor Botanic Gardens and c) Shanklin Chine. There are probably other places too, in fact anywhere on the island with conifers is a possibility.

I'll be over there again in two weeks time and am hoping for a few photos myself.

[Nutkin]

Come to cumbria - I have 4 reds which visit the garden frequently - almost every day!
There are a couple of babies too - one tried to climb up the wall of the house today, then realised it couldn't, so went and dug up a nut and burried it again a few metres away

[d70mpv]

Thanks for the replies guys, I'll certainly bear them in mind, such a shame the little blighters are struggling.