The Save Our Reds, founded by North Pennines journalist and campaigner Marie Carter-Robb, has launched a new interactive map showing the long-term decline of red squirrels in Britain. The map supports calls for a coordinated national recovery plan.
Natural England’s recently published Red Squirrel Recovery Strategy warns that without intervention, red squirrels could go extinct across mainland England within 25 years.
Red Squirrel (Image: Supplied)
Ms Carter-Robb said: “The map is shocking. It makes the reality impossible to ignore.
“This is not theoretical. Without action, we will lose our red squirrels.”
Once common across Britain, red squirrel numbers have plummeted to an estimated 140,000–160,000, with just 15,000 thought to remain in England.
By contrast, the non-native grey squirrel population in the UK is around 2.7 million.
Save Our Reds (Image: Supplied)
Grey squirrels outcompete reds for food and habitat and carry squirrelpox, a virus that is usually harmless to greys but often fatal to reds.
Other pressures include habitat loss and insufficient enforcement of existing protections.
Ms Carter-Robb warned that current efforts are not enough without a joined-up approach.
Map showing distribution of red squirrels (Image: Supplied)
She said: “We don’t have a single-solution problem.
“We have a series of urgent actions that need to be brought together into one joined-up national plan.
“At the moment, these efforts are fragmented. Otherwise, we are simply managing decline.”
The campaign’s proposed national plan calls for properly funded rangers, humane grey squirrel control in red areas, investment in a squirrelpox vaccine, support for fertility control research, stronger habitat protection, and more backing for landowners and volunteers.
(Image: Supplied)
Ms Carter-Robb said: “Volunteers and local groups are doing extraordinary work, but they cannot be expected to hold the line alone.
“We need government, conservation bodies, landowners, scientists and campaigners around the same table.
“The tools exist or are being developed. What is missing is coordination, funding and urgency.”
Filmmaker and red squirrel supporter Terry Abraham, whose BBC documentary ‘Cumbria’s Red Squirrels’ helped raise awareness of the issue, echoed the call for action.
Mr Abraham said: “Our native red squirrels really ought to be the ambassadors of nature conservation within the UK.
“As many of us know, us humans have caused lots of harm to nature within our beautiful and renowned green isles and just as we have caused issues, we must now seek to address it.
“And that includes our precious native flora and fauna-of which our delightful and cute native red scamps are a part of.”
Sue Fowler, a conservationist based in County Durham, emphasised the role of volunteers.
Ms Fowler said: “Without local eyes on the ground, many red squirrel habitats would be lost without anyone noticing.
“Volunteers are doing everything we can-but we need proper policy and protections in place before it’s too late.”
The campaign argues that while it is illegal to kill a red squirrel, habitat destruction in areas known to support them continues with too little scrutiny, too little enforcement and too little political urgency.
To raise wider public awareness, the group is launching Britain’s first Save Our Reds Day on Friday, May 15, 2026, aligned with Endangered Species Day.
Ms Carter-Robb said: “This is not about losing a colour. We are losing a native species.
“Red squirrels are part of Britain’s ecological and cultural inheritance. They belong in our woods, in our folklore and in our future.
“Save Our Reds Day is about making sure people understand the truth, and that we act before it is too late.”
The interactive decline map can be viewed at saveourreds.netlify.app, and the public can sign the campaign’s petition at change.org/save-our-reds.