Prince Charles in bid to save red squirrels

The Prince of Wales has launched a conservation project which he hopes will realise his dream that red squirrels can thrive again in Britain.

The animal is native to the UK but its future is increasingly uncertain as the American grey squirrel introduced into the country expands its range across the mainland.

Prince Charles wants the newly formed Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE) group to help preserve what he called “the most iconic of species”.

He visited Hutton-in-the-Forest, Cumbria, to unveil the five-year scheme and meet volunteers who are involved in red squirrel conservation projects in the northern region.

The RSNE project will bring together existing and new programmes of red squirrel conservation work with a combined value of £3.1 million and will try to bring in extra funding.

Among its aims is to work with landowners, volunteers and the wider community to remove grey squirrels and to monitor red squirrel populations. As patron of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust (RSST), Prince Charles praised the partnership between the RSST, Natural England, the Forestry Commission and the Wildlife Trusts.

He told volunteers: “It is really only by working together that we will have a chance of preserving this most iconic of species. Reds are now returning to the woodland and the gardens where they were once terrorised by greys in certain areas and this is something to celebrate.

“My dream is that red squirrels might thrive in the UK and it is perhaps here in the north of England that perhaps we can dare to think it might be a reality thanks to people like yourselves.

“Two years ago I said I thought the red squirrel could be our national mascot so if we save this iconic species there is just a chance this might actually happen.”

There are 17 red squirrel strongholds in northern England with an estimated 140,000 red squirrels left in Britain, but more than 2.5 million greys, according to the Forestry Commission.

The RSNE project will co-ordinate red squirrel conservation across the North East, the North West and parts of Yorkshire and County Durham.

The Prince made another return visit to the market town of Cockermouth, whose centre was submerged by the floods of November 2009.

Some 225 businesses were physically damaged by the downpour and more than 720 domestic properties were also flood-damaged.

More than a year on and 85 per cent of the domestic dwellings are reoccupied and 92 per cent of all businesses have resumed trading.

Prince Charles saw the recovery for himself as he strolled down Market Place.

Among the shops he visited was ironmonger JB Banks & Son Ltd, whose business, established in 1836, was badly affected.

The shop was flooded to a depth of 4ft 6in (1.4m), counters were upturned and stock was ruined.