26th February 2010
Red squirrels that is! The Assembly Government in Wales has approved a new conservation plan for red squirrels as they are now only found at handful of sites.
For Wales Holidays cottage visitors, the main populations are on Anglesey, in the Clocaenog forest to the west of Ruthin in NE Wales and in the complex of forests of Mid/West Wales in and around the Tywi valley.
A Government Minister said “We can no longer take red squirrels for granted, like other members of our fauna and flora, they have suffered as the result of the spread of a non-native species – the grey squirrel. We have a duty to protect red squirrels in Wales and to ensure that future generations will continue to have the privilege of seeing them in the wild.
In recognition of the importance of these three populations, we have agreed that Anglesey, Clocaenog and the Mid/West Wales sites should be Focal Sites for red squirrels and that urgent strategic action is needed in these areas”
Many factors have contributed to the decline of red squirrels – competition from grey squirrels, the spread of disease and, to a lesser extent, habitat loss. Conservation of red squirrels depends on maintaining sites free from grey squirrels and ensuring suitable habitat for red squirrels.
