Managing farmland for the red squirrel

The International Year of Biodiversity 2010 is a year long celebration of life on Earth.  As part of the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy, the red squirrel, which is the only native squirrel species in Britain and Ireland, has been identified as a species requiring conservation action.  The aim of the Northern Ireland Species Action Plan is to ensure the survival of the remaining red squirrel populations in Northern Ireland. Farmers can play a key role in managing habitats to benefit the red squirrel.

Although red squirrels are native to Ireland, they were hunted to almost extinction by the 1700s.  Between 1815 and 1856 attempts were made to re-establish the red squirrel at ten sites throughout Ireland. However the introduction of the North American grey squirrel to Ireland in 1911 has had a significant effect on the red squirrel population.  The grey squirrel seems better able to exploit deciduous and mixed woodlands, with higher breeding prospects and adult survival compared to the red squirrel. This has led to a continued decline of the native reds.  

Participants in DARD agri-environment schemes can manage areas of woodland habitats on their farms and/or create new areas of planting to favour red squirrel conservation.  Selecting tree species that support red squirrels but are unlikely to encourage grey squirrels is of prime importance.  Red squirrels mostly feed on the seeds of trees and strip conifer cones to get at the seeds. Nuts and berries are also eaten. Therefore planting a mixture of trees is important to reduce the impact of poor cone years in one particular tree species.  Favourable tree species include Scots pine and hawthorn.

Where broadleaves are required for landscape or biodiversity reasons species such as birch, rowan, ash, willow, or alder should be used.  Berry bearing shrubs consisting of hawthorn, dog rose and guelder rose will provide additional food sources for the red squirrel.  Oak, beech, chestnut and hazel are large seeded deciduous trees which favour grey squirrels and should not be planted within red squirrel preferred areas.  Funding is available for native tree planting through agri-environment schemes and the Forest Service Woodland Grant Scheme.

For more information contact your Countryside Management Delivery Adviser at your local DARD office.

The red squirrel is a priority species in Northern Ireland