The Conservation Action Framework
The Save Our Reds Parliamentary Pledge
Supporting Britain's Native Red Squirrel Recovery
Britain already has much of the policy needed to save red squirrels. What it lacks is enforcement, accountability and joined-up habitat protection.
Red squirrels are now Endangered on Britain's Red List for Terrestrial Mammals. As few as 15,000 remain in England.
Natural England's Recovery Strategy (NECR669) warns of extinction across mainland England within 25 years without intervention.
Save Our Reds welcomes support from Members of Parliament and Members of the House of Lords from all political parties who believe Britain's native red squirrel deserves a secure future.
The pledge
By adding my name, I pledge my support for the Save Our Reds Conservation Action Framework, and for a coordinated, properly funded recovery plan for Britain's red squirrels. Specifically, I support:
- Legally protect red squirrels and their woodland habitatsAdding red squirrels to Schedule 2 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, as beavers were in 2022, and closing the felling gap by making a wildlife impact assessment and Natural England sign-off a mandatory condition of any felling licence in a known red squirrel area, replacing today's unenforced guidance with an enforceable licensing regime.
- Enforce existing wildlife law, with named accountabilityProperly enforcing existing legislation across all red squirrel areas, with clear responsibility placed on Forestry England, land managers and relevant authorities, and meaningful consequences where protections are breached.
- Deliver and audit biodiversity commitmentsPublicly funded woodland schemes already incorporate design standards that include up to 20% open habitat and other biodiversity features within woodland design. These commitments must now be properly implemented, with demonstrable habitat retention for red squirrels, transparent monitoring, and public reporting across all publicly funded woodland schemes.
- Fund and accelerate squirrelpox vaccine and grey squirrel fertility control researchBacking both research strands so they move from laboratory success to practical conservation outcomes in the field, with published timetables and milestones.
- Deploy rangers across red squirrel strongholds in Great BritainDeploying trained wildlife rangers immediately to monitor populations, support volunteers and respond rapidly to threats on the ground.
Working alongside Britain's red squirrel community
Supported by leading conservation experts including Dr Craig Shuttleworth and multi-award-winning wildlife filmmaker Terry Abraham FRGS, who serves as our Campaign Ambassador.
We are proud to work alongside a growing network of organisations and projects, including:
- Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group
- South Lakes Red Squirrel Group
- Northumberland Red Squirrels
- County Durham Red Squirrel Group
- Anglesey Red Squirrel Project
- Canny Hill Woodland Project
...alongside many independent conservationists, ecologists, researchers, foresters, landowners and wildlife advocates working across Britain.
Add your name
Save Our Reds CIC · saveourreds.uk
Read the full framework at saveourreds.netlify.app/framework.pdf