Ponteland Red Squirrels

Safeguarding Ponteland's Red Squirrels for Future Generations

Our umbrella group, Northern Red Squirrels, is attempting to produce an overall picture of where red squirrels can be found. Please help by reporting your sightings. Simply click on the above icon and then click on the same icon on the Northern Red Squirrels home page and add your details to the screen.

Northumberland is now one of the few counties in England where red squirrels still exist. Recently, 16 key sites have been identified in the North of England (such as Kielder Forest) where it is felt that the red squirrel has the best chance for survival. This is great news for red squirrels, although it is unfortunate that all efforts and funding will be restricted solely to those areas.

Over recent years the red squirrel colonies in the Ponteland and Darras Hall area have declined sharply. This is due to several factors: destruction of habitat, road kill as well as the the influx of grey squirrels into the area.

PONTELAND RED SQUIRRELS is a local volunteer group set up to help raise awareness and, maintain and increase the population of red squirrels in the Ponteland and Darras Hall area.

To be successful, we need the help and cooperation of the people from the area. OTHERWISE, PONTELAND’S RED SQUIRRELS COULD DISAPPEAR. Click here to see how you can help.

Finally, we are a totally voluntary organisation and as such, do not qualify for any form of funding. If you would like to assist in our cause by making a donation, please click here to contact us for further information.

Merchandise

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Northern News, Issue 1
(Posted 30 July 2008)

Our 'umbrella' organisation, Northern Red Squirrels, has issued its first newsletter. This contains information from various groups within the northern region. Click here to display (you will need Adobe Acrobat to display but if you do not have this on your computer already, it mcan be downloaded from the internet for free; visit http://www.adobe.com/products/reader/ and click on the free download icon.

Ponteland Red Squirrels Now Has a Hotline
(Posted 30 January 2008)

We now have a 'Hotline' phone number which should be used for reporting sightings of grey squirrels and to request information and advice about red squirrels.

Ponteland Parish Council Support Our Red Squirrels!
(Posted 6 January 2008)

We are pleased to announce that Ponteland Parish Council have awarded Ponteland Red Squirrels a £250 grant to help the area's red squirrel population. This is great news for our red squirrels and an excellent example of how local Parish Councils can help to make a difference. The grant will be spent on providing feeders and feed for public areas, along with much needed additional signs to alert drivers to be aware of red squirrels crossing the roads and additional traps. Feeders in public areas in Darras Hall and Ponteland will provide additional supplementary feed for our red squirrels. Supplementary feeding is essential to maintain and boost our populations, particularly in an urban area such as ours where continued loss of habitat through housing development and lack of natural food can be a problem. It has been proved that red squirrels cease breeding when food supplies are low, but will breed twice or more a year when food is plentiful. Our feeders will be regularly filled, especially in lean periods such as summer and winter.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH PONTELAND PARISH COUNCIL FOR THIS GRANT AWARD!

A New Years Message From Ponteland Red Squirrels
(Posted 6 January 2008)

Ponteland's red squirrels continue to thrive, although over the past fews months we have had increased reports of greys invading the area. To date, these have, with the cooperation of residents, been successfully dealt with. However, we cannot stress enough, in the light of the recent outbreaks and the decimation of squirrel populations in nearby Belsay, Bolam Lake and Wallington, the need for continued vigilance and immediate reporting of grey squirrels. PLEASE DON'T LEAVE IT TO ANYONE ELSE! We would rather lots of people report the same sighting than no-one report it at all!
PLEASE REPORT ALL GREY SIGHTINGS TO PONTELAND RED SQUIRRELS Telephone: 07846 900 924 or email: pontelandredsquirrels@yahoo.co.uk. WE WILL ACT IMMEDIATELY. We also forward all our sightings to NWT SOS for their regional database.

You will have noticed our squirrel signs in several hotspots in the area. Unfortunately, we had 14 red squirrels killed on the areas roads in 2007! We hope that the signs will encourage drivers to be more aware of the need to drive at 30mph around Ponteland and Darras Hall, and look out for red squirrels. If you see a red squirrel on the verge or pavement PLEASE SLOW DOWN! Unfortunately, reds have no road sense and will run across the road. Please don't assume they will wait until you have passed - be ready to stop as they may just run across! Please drive at the speed limit, not only for our reds, but also for pedestrians, pets, hedgehogs, birds, etc!

Finally, we would also like to thank Ponteland and Darras Hall residents for their continued support and interest. We always maintain that without the support of local people we would not be able to achieve our goal of SAFEGUARDING PONTELAND'S RED SQUIRRELS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS!

Newsletter Issue 7 Published
(Posted 3 December 2007)

The latest Newsletter is now available to view on-line.

Expanded Site
(Posted 15 November 2007)

The pages on Feeding Reds and About Red Squirrels have been combined and an easy to use index included. A new page on the threats to red squirrels from domestic pets and measures that can be taken to minimise has been added.

POX OUTBREAKS THREAT TO OUR RED SQUIRREL
(Posted 9 November 2007)

Several outbreaks of the squirrel pox virus have been confirmed within red squirrel colonies in the district this week.

Wallington Hall, renowned for it’s excellent population of red squirrels, has had several squirrel deaths within the past two weeks. Results of tests have now confirmed fears that the squirrels have been infected with the virus. Belsay Hall, also boasting a good population of reds, has just received results of tests confirming the pox.

Dissington Hall and Bolam Lake have reported sightings of ‘poorly reds’ with obvious symptoms of the disease. These have yet to be confirmed.

These outbreaks are all within a line leading from the River Tyne North. We have had a spate of grey sightings in the area since July. Efforts to control the greys have been ongoing, but juvenile greys have been slipping the net. Unfortunately, though some people may not like to hear it, if we are to save our red squirrels we do need to control the greys.

If you see a grey squirrel (anywhere in Northumberland) please report it to us (pontelandredsquirrels@yahoo.co.uk) immediately . DON’T leave it to someone else. WE WILL ACT!

More Photos
(Posted 8 October 2007)

We now have so many photos that a second Gallery page has been added

Photographic Success
(Posted 14 May 2007)

Many of you will have looked at our Gallery and seen the excellent work of Peter Curran. Well Peter's efforts have now achieved wider recognition as he recently won first prize in the Dobbies Garden Wildlife Photographic Competition. This competition was well supported with many photographic entries covering a wide range of wildlife found in local gardens. Peter won with his photograph of a red squirrel and the picture shows him presenting a framed copy of the winning entry to Claire of Dobbies who organised the competition.

Peter is fortunate to see red squirrels come into his garden every day and he takes many photographs. Peter supports Ponteland Red Squirrels by supplying his photographs, framed or unframed to sell and raise money for red squirrel preservation. These can be obtained via our Merchandise page or from Peter himself (peterrcurran@yahoo.co.uk).

Red Squirrel Merchandise
(Posted 27 April 2007, revised 14 May 2007)

At the February and March Farmer's Markets in Ponteland, Ponteland Red Squirrels had a stall and offered a number of items for sale, the proceeds from which go towards funding our work (Ponteland Red Squirrels is a voluntary organisation with no external funding). These items are now available for purchase via the website. Please visit our new Merchandise page to see what is available and how to purchase.

As of 14 May, two new items have been added, a 'Special Friends' Squirrel with beans (14cm high) at £2.50 and a 'Mini Friends' Squirrel with beans (10cm high) at £1.50. Click here to view.

Tyne Valley Squirrel Pox Outbreaks
(Posted 19 March 2007)

There have been several reported outbreaks of the SQUIRREL POX VIRUS along the Tyne valley over the past month. Areas include Allen Banks, Haydon Bridge, Haltwhistle and Acomb. A number of red squirrels have been seen or found dead with symptoms of the terribly infectious disease. It is very important to report any sighting of poorly red squirrels seen along the Tyne Valley to the Save Our Squirrels Project. Hopefully these outbreaks can be contained and the disease will not spread into other areas. However, if you sight a poorly or disorienated red squirrel in the Ponteland area please contact Ponteland Red Squirrels immediately. To find out more about Squirrel Pox Virus please use the link above.

8 Greys Dispatched in Ponteland
(Posted 10 February 2007)

We can confirm that 8 grey squirrels have been caught and dealt with by Ponteland Red Squirrels (with co-operation from local residents) in the Daras Hall area since December. Whilst this is good news for our red squirrels, we are concerned that the numbers of greys making their way into the area is on the increase. They are spreading from West Denton, Throckely and the Tyne Valley. The RSPP's efforts in the rest of the County are well underway with over 68 greys being dispatched in the Tyne Valley area since the new year alone. However, they have yet to tackle the West Denton and Throckley areas as willing monitors need to be found.

We are appealing to all Ponteland and Darras Hall residents to be extra vigilant and to call us (pontelandredsquirrels@yahoo.co.uk immediately if any grey squirrels are sighted. Our success at keeping Ponteland Red and supporting the RSPP in their efforts to save our red squirrels depends on you!

The latest picture from Peter Curran (9 Feb 2007) Visit the Gallery to see more

Name/Logo Change
(Posted 14 January 2007)

To avoid confusion with the NWT SOS group and to reflect that we are now part of the Red Squirrel Protection Partnership (RSPP), Ponteland SOS has been renamed and is now Ponteland Red Squirrels.

Red Squirrel Protection Partnership Set Up
(Posted 3 January 2007)

A new organisation, the Red Squirrel Protection Partnership (RSPP) was launched at the end of December to try and save the native red squirrel from extinction (‘Ten years to extinction without your help!’ was the message given at the launch). It has been set up by Lord Redesdale with funding from DEFRA.

The RSPP aim to create a network of volunteers across Northumberland to monitor areas for grey squirrels (the primary threat) and, if sighted, alert the RSPP’s trained volunteers to provide traps. The aim is to push them back over the Tyne to create a natural boundary.

If you wish to join as a volunteer, further details can be found on the RSPP web-site, www.rspp.org.uk, 'Help the RSPP' page. Alternatively, for £10 per year you can join the society as a member, again, further details are on the website.

This is great news for Ponteland Red Squirrels, which will be able to join forces with the RSPP, and share experiences and expertise with other like-minded people to help create a team of volunteers across Northumberland to help save our native red squirrel. A special news briefing has been produced that gives greater detail

Speed Kills
(Revised 1 December 2006)

Three red squirrels have been killed on Darras Hall roads within the last month. We are again appealing to residents and visitors to the area to drive slowly! It is especially important at this time of year as the squirrels are busy collecting nuts and berries for winter and are therefore very active. However, we are not just worried for the squirrels, we are also concerned for children, pedestrians and other wildlife in the area. As you are no doubt aware, people travel through the Estate at speeds often in excess of 50mph and nothing is being done to stop them!

We have already expressed our concerns with DHC, the Council, MPs and the Police and, as a result, have recently been informed that talks are underway to provide traffic calming on Broadway and Callerton Lane. This is a good start, however, we feel that speed restriction measures should be placed on all of the main arterial roads in Darras Hall. If you agree, please support by signing our petition and where possible, providing your suggestions. Copies can be found in Ponteland Library and local shops (Davidsons and Martins).

Click here to see a copy of our petition. More details can be found in Newsletter (Issue 3).

Squirrel Pox Virus Wipes Out Local Squirrel Colonies
(Posted 25 September 2006)

Recent outbreaks of the Squirrel Pox virus in the Morpeth area have caused great concern for Red Alert and other agencies battling to save our Red Squirrels. Whole colonies of Red Squirrels in Shadfen and Mitford, in Castle Morpeth have recently been wiped out by the terrible disease.