The sighting has prompted emotional responses from conservationists and volunteers, fuelling hopes of restoring the native species to South Cumbria.

It was made this week by a volunteer from South Lakes Red Squirrel Group in a woodland area less than a mile from Ulverston town centre. 

 

Mike Frear, co-chair of South Lakes Red Squirrel Group, said the discovery was completely unexpected – and deeply moving.

“Our volunteers have been working incredibly hard for five years to give red squirrels a chance in the Furness Peninsula,” he said.

“We’ve had isolated reports on the outskirts in places like Greenodd and Bowston but never this far south. Yesterday, our volunteer Kev got the surprise of his life when a red squirrel turned up on his feeder. It was totally out of the blue.”

Mr Frear said that although the group had long planned a formal red squirrel reintroduction, nature may have beaten them to it.

“This kind of sighting is emotional for anyone who’s been involved,” he said. “I had a similar experience myself a few years ago at Newby Bridge after months of hard work.

“Now, seeing a red squirrel here again is a huge step forward. Now, we’ll be stepping up our efforts to support this one and hopefully more, with cameras already installed in the area.”

A red squirrel makes a surprise appearance on a feeder in Ulverston in over 40 years (Image: South Lakes Red Squirrel Group) Kev, the volunteer who made the sighting, has been monitoring and managing wildlife in the same patch of woodland for over six years.

He said the red squirrel appeared while he was watching a feeder during poor weather – a moment he described as unforgettable.

“This morning, something new happened – a red squirrel turned up,” he said. “I’ve seen dark-coloured greys with red in their coat before, but this was unmistakably a red – it ran out and straight up onto the feeder.

“I spent twenty minutes watching it, trying to get a picture through my scope. I was soaked, it was windy and grim – but none of that mattered anymore.”

The red squirrel was spotted in woodland less than a mile from Ulverston town centre (Image: South Lakes Red Squirrel Group) He described the squirrel as likely a juvenile, familiar with the feeder and ‘inquisitive and bold.’ Despite technical issues with his camera setup, he managed to capture images to confirm the sighting.

“This is how we’ll get reds back,” he added, “by making space for them. The work we do in smaller patches of woodland makes a real difference.”

“A red squirrel in Ulverston – who would have thought it? It’s encouraging for all of us and proves the long hours are worth it.”

The South Lakes Red Squirrel Group is urging landowners and residents with gardens or woodland near the town to get in touch if they spot red squirrels.