Red Squirrel Appreciation Day

Raising awareness of red squirrels and their conservation, and celebrating their beauty.

Post, like and share images, news and stories using the hashtag #RedSquirrelAppreciationDay.

Get Involved - report sightings

Squirrel sightings provide data that increase understanding of population spread and movement, and support effective conservation and management efforts.

More info

The red squirrel is the only squirrel species native to the UK. But be aware that as red squirrels have disappeared from much of the UK you'll need to be a in special place to see them. Red squirrels have now retreated to forests in Scotland, Northern England, the Isle of Wight, islands in Poole Harbour, and a few places in Wales and Northern Ireland. Red Squirrel Appreciation Day is all about celebrating and raising awareness for our red squirrels.

There are lots of ways to get involved, including volunteering, donating or surveying - through coordinated community action there has been an increase in red squirrel numbers in and around these stronghold areas, and together we must ensure that continues.

Red squirrel status

Red squirrels are classed as endangered on The Mammal Society’s Red List for Britain’s Mammals. In Northern Ireland red squirrels are classed as least concern as numbers are recovering thanks to active conservation action and pine marten recovery.

The population has fallen from a high of around 3.5 million in the UK, to the current rough estimate of 287,000. Around 75% are found in Scotland, with the population in England thought to be as low as 38,900.

Following the introduction of grey squirrels to the UK, red squirrels have faced local extinctions. Only thanks to conservation efforts are red squirrels still found in some areas of the UK. Watch our annual UK red squirrel conservation update webinar.

Image: red squirrel hand puppet, available from the Muddy Faces shop here.