WlLDLIFE lovers in the Lake District have been given the opportunity to come face-to-face with some of Britain's most endangered and charming creatures.

A unique hide specially designed for spotting red squirrels has been officially opened to the public, in woods beside Thirlmere.

The structure, which has been created out of living willow, is the first of its kind and offers a close encounter with the creatures as they hop around the forest floor.

And, as summer approaches, the hide will sprout leaves, which will provide an even better hiding place for wildlife watchers.

The red squirrel was once a common sight throughout Britain. But, over the past century, following the introduction of the larger virus-carrying greys, numbers have decreased dramatically although the Lake District remains one its few strongholds.

Plans for the hide were hatched following fund-raising efforts by readers of Cumbria Life magazine.

The magazine and squirrel conservation charity Red Alert then approached United Utilities, which owns Thirlmere Reservoir and the surrounding woodland.

The area has been declared a red squirrel refuge and offers an ideal habitat in which reds can thrive. It combines a coniferous forest and an isolated location which the greys cannot encroach upon.

Laurie Walton, a United Utilities wildlife warden, explained that the company had been trying to attract more red squirrels to the area over the past six years.

"It has always been our policy to maintain the estate in a way that protects wildlife, the environment and water quality in the reservoir while allowing access and recreation for the public.

"So we thought the squirrel hide was a great idea but we were keen to build something very sympathetic to the natural environment."

And, to make the dream of a "living" hide a reality, Cockermouth-based basket-maker and willow grower Phil Bradley was recruited to build the structure over a three-day period.

The hide was formed by weaving the new living branches together to create a natural screen, where people will be able to watch the squirrels or any other wild animals that stray into the area.

Although Mr Bradley has created bird hides in the past, this was the first time that he had designed a structure especially for squirrels.

He said: "The hide is in a skeletal form at the moment but, in time, it will grow green leaves. It is a living and breathing structure. It will need a health check once a year but the lifespan of willows is 40 to 50 years and it is more or less a permanent structure."