(Above) Prince Charles finds out about the thriving red squirrel population at Plas Newydd in Denbighshire
The battle to revive red squirrel populations across the UK took another fleet-footed hop forward yesterday when The Prince of Wales visited Anglesey country house Plas Newydd to see a project re-introducing the beleaguered species to the surrounding woodland.
Wildlife experts at the Snowdonia beauty spot released six virulent squirrels, born at Pensthorpe Wildlife Park in Norfolk and the Wildwood forest park in Kent, into the deciduous nearby hills in October 2008. They bred successfully and are now thriving throughout the area, including sightings across the border in neighbouring Gwynedd.
Officials at the 18th century house lead their royal visitor down the garden path
"Red squirrels haven't been seen at Plas Newydd for more than 20 years but it was once a stronghold for the species, so we know it's a location where they will thrive," predicted Property Manager Jane Richardson.
"People have already reported that they've seen the red squirrels in the garden and we intend to set up a reporting area in the summer house so that visitors can tell us when they spot them."
The breakthrough is the latest victory for The Anglesey Red Squirrel Project, which has helped its furry beneficiaries reappear in several spots around the island since 1998, aided by local community group Friends of the Anglesey Red Squirrels.
The breed has been threatened by invading grey squirrels, who carry a squirrel pox liable to decimate their red rivals. Only 160,000 reds have been left to compete with an estimated 2.5 million greys, and property owners The National Trust have taken measures to keep greys out of Brownsea Island in Dorset, the Isle of Wight and the North of England.
"It's good that Plas Newydd is open to the public so it's somewhere where local people and visitors alike, especially children, will have a great chance of seeing wild reds," added Richardson.
"It's wonderful that His Royal Highness has decided to come and see the success of the re-introduction project for himself."
The Trust's top tips for successful red squirrel spotting:
- Look for them in the morning or later in the afternoon
- Try not to make too much noise
- Look up (they live in trees most of the time)
- Listen for the falling material discarded by squirrels as they eat seeds
- Look for evidence of squirrels feeding around pine trees – they eat pine cones in a very distinctive way
- In autumn, look near sweet chestnut and beech trees – they like the nuts these trees produce
- Stop still as soon as you spot one
