SEFTON’S RED SQUIRREL POPULATION CONTINUES TO COLLAPSE
FIGURES
released on 29 January 2009 by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust have
confirmed that the number of red squirrels in the Formby and
Ainsdale pinewoods has fallen dramatically as a result of the
epidemic of squirrel pox virus which has swept the area for the past
two years.
The woodlands have been surveyed six times a year by volunteers
since 2002, enabling accurate monitoring of changes in red squirrel
numbers.
The population had shrunk to 40% of its normal size by spring 2008
and to 20% by early autumn. Red squirrels have continued to be lost
since then and it is likely that only one in ten of those present in
2006 have survived. It is possible that only a hundred or so animals
now remain in the pinewoods.
The squirrel pox epidemic has not been confined to the main Sefton
Coast refuge woodlands. Very large numbers have also died in the
urban areas of Formby and Ainsdale, but it has not yet spread south
to Hightown or Blundellsands and Crosby.
Although no new cases of this deadly virus have been reported since
Christmas there is no guarantee that the epidemic has burned itself
out – it may reappear at any time.
Local nature conservationists will therefore redouble their efforts
to save Sefton’s red squirrels and we ask members of
the public to continue phoning in sightings of any squirrels, red or
grey, in the area to us on 07590-745862 or 0151-920
3769.
Steve White from the Lancashire Wildlife Trust said:- “We have
long known that the spread of squirrel pox from greys was the major
threat to the survival of Sefton’s red squirrels, but the speed with
which this disease has taken hold has taken us by surprise. All is
not lost, though. If we can prevent a recurrence of the disease then
the surviving red squirrels could re-colonise the area quite
quickly.”
APPEAL FOR WITNESSES... ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISION ON LORD STREET,
SOUTHPORT
MERSEYSIDE
Police are appealing for any witnesses to a road traffic collision
that happened on Lord Street, Southport, Merseyside, on the night of
Saturday, 31 January 2009.
At around 11.10pm a
private taxi was in collision with a 37 year old local man who was
crossing the road near to the Sainsbury's store on Lord Street. The man was taken to
hospital with serious head injuries and is in a critical, but stable
condition.
Anyone who saw the collision is asked to contact police on 0151 777
5771 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Credit
Union AGM
THE
Crosby and Thornton Credit Union Limited are
holding their Annual General Meeting on 12
February 2009 at 7pm in the Crossroads
Centre, (Near St Luke's Church).
THE Latin
Lounge will be running Winter Opening Hours
for a short time, which will see the venue
only opening from 12 noon to late on
Thursday Friday and Saturday’s, until
further notice. We have been told that the
Monday Night Salsa classes will be
continuing as normal and that functions and
Party bookings can be placed through out the
week via phone and/or via visiting when they
are open. The owner Carrol told us that:-
“We would like to thank all of you who have
asked about Hayley’s baby and I can confirm
he is doing fine. We have had a huge surge
in the amount of bookings for the rest of
the year and with a baby being born as well,
we thought it is a good time to take our
holidays. That way, we will be fighting fit
for what will be a very busy year ahead. If
any of your readers want to book functions,
then please do so as soon as possible, to
avoid disappointment as we are filling fast,
but we do still have openings.
Don't forget
to get a Loyalty card for the Latin Lounge
from any of Southport Reporter's staff....”
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BIRTHDAY~
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us say happy birthday to, and/or a photograph.
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