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RED SQUIRREL ACTION PLAN Description

The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is the only native squirrel in the UK and it was once common in broadleaved woodland throughout Britain. These mammals are smaller than the introduced grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and have reddish-brown fur, with characteristic ear tufts which appear in the winter months only. Grey squirrels can also have some red-brown colouration but it is not as uniform as the red squirrel. This species can live up to six years and mature females may produce two litters per year, each of two or three young. Red squirrels are found in coniferous and broadleaved woodland and spend much of the day in the shrub

layer and tree canopy where they build spherical tree nests called dreys. They will also build a flat tree platform of twigs in hot weather or line a tree hole with leaves and twigs. Red squirrels are opportunist feeders and will eat a wide range of food items including seeds, fruit, tree shoots, flowers, occasional insects and even birds’ eggs. They will store nuts and conifer cones in caches underground in autumn. Targets Target 1:

Understand the current distribution, population sizes and habitat use of red squirrels within Powys and factors affecting their distribution.

Target 2:

Maintain or expand the population of red squirrel in Powys above the present level.

Target 3: Promote management practices that are suitable for red squirrels in

areas where they are known to occur. Target 4: Promote the creation of a Central Wales Red Squirrel Conservation

Area, to include Tywi, Irfon and Crychan Forests in Powys.

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Current status The red squirrel has disappeared from large parts of its natural range in the UK over the past 50 years, with the introduced grey squirrel replacing it throughout most of England and Wales. The distribution is now largely confined to Scotland and Ireland, although isolated populations persist in southern England at Poole Harbour in Dorset, on the Isle of Wight and at Thetford in Norfolk (a re-introduced population). In northern England it is found only where greys have not yet established themselves. The species remains widespread and locally common in Scotland and Northern Ireland where they have shown a modest expansion in range and number. The population in Wales is thought to number only a few thousand, confined to scattered localities in Gwynedd (on Anglesey, around Bala and Dolgellau), Clwyd (Clocaenog Forest, its stronghold in Wales) and Central Wales (Carmarthenshire, Brecknock and Ceredigion). In Powys the current population is largely restricted to the north-west of Brecknock, associated with the vast coniferous forests around Abergwesyn and Llanwrtyd Wells (which extend across the county border into Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion). There are also recent records (post 1995) from the Carmarthenshire side of Crychan Forest, further to the south, and one 1996 record where this forest extends into Brecknock, around Tirabad. Historically the written records in Brecknock date back to the 1950s when there was still a remnant population in the Wye valley between Alltmawr and Llyswen. There were reports of live sightings as recently as 1971 from forestry around Llaneglwys, to the west of Erwood.

Historical records from Radnorshire are more elusive, but verbal communication with an elderly farmer from Nantmel suggests that they may have been present in that area at least until the 1950s. In Montgomeryshire there are two recent records (1999 and 2000), one from the Powys /Meirionnydd border, probably associated with the Meirionnydd population which occurs nearby, and the other from the forestry around Lake Vyrnwy. The red squirrel is listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention and is protected by Schedules 5 and 6 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981). Under the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981) it is an offence to intentionally kill, injure or sell a red squirrel, or damage, destroy or obstruct access to its resting place. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) published a UK Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation in 1996 which preceded the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).

The UK Red Squirrel Group is taking forward the work of the Strategy and BAP through liaison with relevant parties. In Wales, CCW has produced The Wales Red Squirrel Strategy (1999) which has the support of the UK Red Squirrel Group.

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Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

Post-1980 RecordsPre-1980 Records

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This is a guidance document for the conservation of the remaining red squirrel populations in Wales, including Powys, and it promotes the creation of specific strategies and management plans for each local population in Wales. Current factors affecting the species If it were not for the introduction of grey squirrels into Britain the red squirrel would presumably have continued to live in native broadleaved woodland habitats, as well as utilising mixed woodland, hedgerows, gardens etc. The decline of red squirrels seems to be a direct result of the spread of the grey squirrel, which is better able to utilise food resources found in these habitats, in particular favouring the large seeds of species such as oak, hazel, beech and chestnut. Grey squirrels will eat hazel nuts before they are ripe. Differing food requirements mean red squirrels in Wales now tend to be restricted to coniferous forests where they are able to feed on the smaller conifer seed, in addition to other seasonal food items available in this habitat such as tree buds, shoots and fungi. In contrast, grey squirrels appear to be less well adapted to feeding in coniferous woodland. As these forests are not native, but an artificially created phenomenon, the survival of red squirrels is inextricably linked to the continuing management practices of man. A further factor which may be highly significant is the effects of diseases such as Parapox virus which may tip the balance against red squirrel survival where red and grey squirrels coexist in close proximity. Current action in Powys In 2000 CCW commissioned a collation study on the post 1990 records of red squirrel in Central Wales, aimed at identifying the remaining refugia (Matthews & Bevan, 2000). The study also involved a preliminary habitat assessment of the main sites where red squirrels still occur. This lead to a targeted hair-tube survey in spring 2001, jointly commissioned by CCW and the Forestry Commission to try to investigate distribution and population size, with part of the study area in north west Brecknock (Cartmel, 2000). This survey also looked at the current habitat composition of those areas managed by Forest Enterprise and the resulting data is analysed in the report in relation to the requirements of red squirrels. Conservation management proposals are also put forward for each forest studied. Management practices which will increase the chances of red squirrel survival in coniferous habitat include planting as wide a variety of suitable conifer species as possible (often depending on altitude and economics), creating mixed age-class forests and ensuring that there is adequate linkage habitat between potential food sources. These factors are aimed at ensuring availability of a food source in subsequent years. Habitat management to favour red squirrels includes the removal of large seeded broadleaved trees, not re-planting these tree species and creating buffer zones between areas used by red and grey squirrels. The issue of grey squirrel control will also need to be addressed in order to achieve a sustainable red squirrel population. There is an urgent need for co-ordination between the differently owned conifer blocks in the Central Wales red squirrel population area both within Brecknock and across the county boundaries, over management practices, timing of operations etc. Further work is also required to build red squirrel conservation measures into the Forest Design Plans which have been produced for these forests by Forest Enterprise.

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Key Habitats Large areas of continuous pure coniferous woodland with a mixture of suitable coniferous species and a range of age-classes. Red Squirrel Action Plan Action Meets

target Deliverer Complete

by Policy and legislation

Establish a Red Squirrel Forum for Central Wales, involving key players in Powys, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion

1,3,4 FE, Tilhill Economic Forestry, CCW, LAs

2002

Promote recognition of Central Wales Red Squirrel Conservation Area

4 CCW, FE 2003

Produce a Central Wales Red Squirrel Strategy 1,2,3,4 CCW,FE 2003 In areas where red squirrels are known to exist, promote coniferous woodland management techniques favourable to reds through Forest Design Plans (FE) and Long-term Forest Plans (private forestry)

2,3,4 FE, CCW 2003

Site safeguard and management Promote active habitat management for red squirrels within the Central Wales Red Squirrel Conservation Area, as set out in Wales Red Squirrel Strategy and Forestry Commission Forest Practice Note 5.

2,3,4 FE, CCW 2003, ongoing

Management plans to be written for each forest/ownership area following consultation with forest managers/owners

2,3,4 CCW, FE, private foresters

2005

Undertake trial programme of grey squirrel control in key red squirrel areas.

2,3 CCW, LBAP partnership

2005

Monitoring and research Undertake further presence/distribution surveys including hair-tube surveys within Central Wales Red Squirrel Conservation Area

1,4 CCW 2003

Promote the collation of sightings from members of the public, forestry workers etc. using standardised questionnaire produced by CCW

1, 4 CCW, FE 2003, ongoing

Advisory Ensure information on red squirrel conservation and appropriate habitat management is available to all relevant site owners/managers

2,3,4 CCW, FE

2003

Encourage uptake of relevant grants/funding to promote appropriate habitat management by land owners within the population area.

2,3,4 CCW, FE 2003, ongoing

Associated action plans • UK Action Plan for Red Squirrel (for which Forestry Commission is the lead

partner) • Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) Work Plan for the implementation of the

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) Species Action Plan in Wales. Date: 1 March 2000. • Powys conifer woodland action plan • Carmarthenshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Red Squirrel