Sanctuary for red squirrels

The grey squirrel no-go area is at Whinfell Forest, near Temple Sowerby, and was unveiled this week to mark the tenth anniversary of Kendal-based Red Alert North West, the conservation agency established to ensure the squirrels' long-term survival.

It follows concerns that the species, which has already become extinct from southern and central England, could be wiped out from Cumbria within ten years unless more is done.

The conifer forest already supports around 150 reds and a series of land management techniques will be implemented to keep greys at bay.

These will include removing food sources the greys need and developing the forest to best suit reds.

The sanctuary is situated at the Centre Parcs' Oasis Whinfell Forest Village. The campaign launch also saw the announcement of plans to create 18 similar refuges at other sites across the North West.

Discussions have already taken place about projects for Greystoke, Garsdale and Mallerstang, and Widdale, near Hawes, to complement the ones at Whinlatter, Thirlmere and now Whinfell.

Conifer forests are ideal for the reds, which spend their days foraging for seeds, berries and shoots. But experts say there are only around 30,000 reds left in England.

But the North American grey, which has an estimated population in Britain of more than two million, does not thrive in conifer forests.

As well as being bigger than the red and more hardy, when it comes to surviving harsh weather or food shortages the greys are winning the battle for food and are more successful breeders. But there are places in Scotland where the two species can co-exist.

The long-term future of the reds has been high on the agenda recently with calls made to the Lake District National Park Authority for more trapping and shooting culls of the grey, which outnumber reds 66-1. The LDNPA is due to report back at its meeting in March.

Botanist and television personality David Bellamy, who is patron of the Friends of the Red Squirrel, commented: "I'm delighted that Whinfell is now a refuge for red squirrels. Red Alert North West has been busily beavering away to achieve this and I'm sure other forests will follow in the near future.

"The red squirrel is an animal we care about passionately saving them is important, not only for Cumbrians but for the nation because we all cherish them as one of our favourite wild animals."

The Lowther Estates is the owner of Whinfell Forest and landlords of the site of Oasis. Trustee Robert Benson said: "We have a thriving population of red squirrels here at Whinfell and we want to do as much as we can to keep it that way. A big forest like this can make a real difference towards protecting red squirrels so we wanted to help by growing the right sort of trees."

Part of the Centre Parcs visitor experience includes staff teaching visitors about the red squirrel. Chief executive Martin Dalby said: "The red squirrels are one of our main attractions within the forest and the prestige of being a red squirrel refuge is a real encouragement as we try to protect them."