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Southport Reporter® covering the news on Merseyside.

Date:- 19 March 2007

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Red squirrels send out an SOS...

THE native red squirrels living in some of the most picturesque landscapes across the North of England are sending out a national distress signal calling for help... --- ... --- ...

On Thursday, 15 March 2007, campaign mascot, 'Teazel the Squirrel', who was wearing a distinctive, promotional T-shirt was helping members of the Save our Squirrels (SoS) team to launch a new interactive website and hotline phone number. 'Teazel' was joined by red squirrel supporters from Range High School in Formby, Merseyside and Formby Girl Guides at St Luke's Church Hall, Formby on Thursday 15 March 2007 for the launch as the new £40,000 squirrel access and interpretation trail is the first of the SoS teams capital projects. The trail, which is nearing completion, has been developed in conjunction with the Sefton Coastal Partnership and Sefton District Council, with financial assistance from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Mersey Waterfront Partnership. The trail is located in Formby to the south of Freshfield which is already world famous as one of the best sites to view red squirrels in the wild, in the UK. Both areas are part of the Sefton National Squirrel Refuge.

Range High School worked with the People & Wildlife Officer, Sally Orritt, to design and build feeders for the squirrel trail. Sally also worked with the Girl Guides and local sculptor, John Merrill, to design three sculptures situated along the trail, which members of the general public will be able to see when the trail is officially opened in May 2007.

The new Save our Squirrels (SoS) website was created by Red Alert North England the scheme has been made possible by a £656,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and generous support from both the public and private sector and individuals. Visitors to the new website will be able to log sightings of red squirrels by completing a user friendly online form. This information will be automatically entered into a database, and the results displayed in a regularly updated map form on the website, as well as being shared with academic and conservation organisations across the UK and abroad.

The website will provide access to up to date information on red squirrel conservation, habitat management, public activities and events, as well as giving people the chance to read the latest research on squirrel related issues.

As Carri Nicholson, SoS project manager explained:- "It is a vital part of our campaign to increase awareness about the plight of one of the country's most popular native species. The SoS website and hotline number will allow members of the public to directly record sightings of red squirrels to help us map their distribution across England. We also need people in the North of England to record sightings of grey squirrels so that we can track their spread and help prevent them from entering the last safe havens for red squirrels on mainland England.

Red squirrel populations are currently in decline due to a variety of reasons such as loss of habitat, competition for food sources with greys and, most importantly, the transmission of the deadly squirrel poxvirus disease from grey to red squirrels. The SoS project aims to combat this decline by working with educational institutions, the general public and landowners, to manage habitats and provide advice and support on squirrel conservation issues."

The National Squirrel Sightings Hotline, it is hoped, will make it easier for members of the public to report squirrel sightings immediately.

This number will ring within the centre of the SoS headquarters where staff will be on hand to provide information and advice on all squirrel related issues.

Visit the new website or contact the National Squirrel Sightings Hotline on 0845 347 9375 to find out more about how you can help red squirrels in the UK.

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