Time to get after the greys

Volunteers leading grey squirrel control

Shooters will be at the heart of a new Government push to tackle grey squirrels after Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs admitted volunteers are already doing most of the heavy lifting.

The Grey Squirrel Policy Statement, published on 29 January, reveals community volunteer groups account for 80% of grey squirrel management in the red squirrel’s northern strongholds – and now the Government wants to back them properly.

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New support for local control groups

Defra is funding three project officers to coordinate local control groups in Lancashire, Yorkshire and County Durham, and expanding Countryside Stewardship grant areas for squirrel control. The policy also states landowners should “make use of well-trained, competent volunteers in grey squirrel management across the whole of England”.

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Impact on woodland and red squirrels

The plan comes as grey squirrel hammer England’s woodlands to the tune of £37 million a year, while the red squirrel population has crashed to just 38,900.

BASC’s Ian Danby said: “The role of people who shoot in supporting red squirrel recovery projects and wider grey squirrel management is vital for delivering this policy.”

His colleague Martin Edwards added that grey squirrel management has already benefited from the shooting community’s input and the updated policy “opens the pathway for shooting to do more”.

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Debate over pine marten recovery

But the policy’s backing for pine marten recovery sparked pushback.

Tim Weston of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation warned: “Pine martens are not a solution to the grey squirrel problem; active, coordinated management remains essential.”