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Strategy 2026-2031

Our vision: A future where red squirrels are recovering, woodlands are thriving and collaborative action is delivering positive outcomes for nature and people.

Scroll down or click below to navigate to our seven strategy objectives, or download the document.

Partnership & Governance Funding & Resources Red Squirrel Recovery Healthy Trees & Woods Research, Evidence & Monitoring Policy & Advocacy Awareness, Engagement & Communications Strategy Delivery

Introduction

In 2015, the UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA) was established to help protect the UK’s native red squirrels and young trees, and reduce the negative impacts of invasive grey squirrels. The partnership continues to grow in impact and membership, and welcomes new signatories that complement and strengthen our work.

 

The following five-year strategy was developed with UKSA partners. Research was conducted with representatives from UKSA signatories on the drivers and challenges to partnership success. Results fed into a series of partner workshops held across the UK. Outcomes were prioritised and then further developed by a partner steering group.

 

This collaboratively developed strategy identifies activities to be coordinated through core UKSA resources, alongside wider partnership actions as we move into our second decade. Working together we can create a brighter future for the UK’s red squirrels, trees and woodland ecosystems.

 

UKSA would like to thank everyone involved in the development of this strategy. There are many opportunities to contribute to delivering our shared objectives. Please get involved and help us achieve more together.
Download the strategy document

Partnership & Governance

Objective
A strong, coordinated & committed UKSA partnership delivering collective impact.
Need
UKSA is a multi-sector partnership that needs effective coordination, trust and structures to deliver collective impact.
Resources
• Existing UKSA signatory base
• Executive Committee, subcommittees and UKSA staff
• Communication tools and platforms
Goals
• Strengthened governance framework with clear roles and accountability
• High signatory engagement and active collaboration
Core UKSA activities
• Update governance documents and role descriptions
• Develop a partnership engagement plan and maintain communications channels
• Deliver annual partnership meetings and opportunities to bring signatories together
• Produce an annual partnership summary for public dissemination
Partnership activities
• Outline clear actions signatories can take to support UKSA and deliver its aims
Intended impact
UKSA is a trusted and coordinated partnership effectively working together to deliver greater collective impact.

Funding & Resources

Objective
UKSA secures the resources needed to deliver its strategy and aims.
Need
Delivering UKSA’s aims requires sustained and diverse funding and operational capacity. Current funding is limited and uncertain. The current fundraising target is £750,000 for grey squirrel fertility control research and partnership management. This does not include the in-kind support from partners which is needed and greatly appreciated.
Resources
• Fundraising skills and networks across partners
• UKSA staff time and expertise
• Funder relationships and track record
• In-kind support from partners
Goals
• Secure diverse funding streams
• Strengthen UKSA capacity to deliver strategy
Core UKSA activities
• Develop and implement a fundraising strategy
• Establish a signatory fundraising network
Partnership activities
• Explore innovative funding mechanisms
• Maintain and expand in-kind support from partners
Intended impact
UKSA has the resources needed to lead, coordinate and support delivery of its strategy.

Red Squirrel Recovery

Objective
Red squirrels are recovering across more of the UK.
Need
Red squirrels have declined dramatically across the UK due to habitat loss, competition from grey squirrels and squirrelpox virus. Conservation efforts are fragmented and under-resourced. There is a need for coordinated action to support species recovery.
Resources
• UKSA signatories
• Volunteer networks
• NGOs, landowners and government support
• Initiatives and projects
• Existing national and local squirrel strategies
• Grey squirrel fertility control development
Goals
• Reduce grey squirrel threats in red squirrel areas
• Increase the delivery of evidence-based management activities
Goals
• Reduce grey squirrel threats in red squirrel areas
• Increase the delivery of evidence-based management activities
Core UKSA activities
• Identify how UKSA can support relevant country strategies and action plans
• Facilitate partnership working to benefit red squirrel recovery
• Facilitate expansion of landscape-scale activity within the UKSA project area
Partnership activities
• Support delivery of initiatives and projects that align with UKSA aims
• Share guidance and training on best practice management methods
• Advocate for the inclusion of red squirrel recovery in relevant strategies
• Establish a UK-wide volunteer network for support and knowledge sharing
• Coordinate periodical updates of the squirrel distribution map and disseminate
Intended impact
Red squirrels are recovering across more of the UK, supported by collaborative actions.

Healthy Trees & Woods

Objective
Trees are better protected from negative grey squirrel impacts.
Need
Widespread bark stripping by grey squirrels leads to significant damage to trees, impacting woodland health, carbon storage and biodiversity. This damage also incurs economic costs for woodland owners and managers.
Resources
• Research on bark stripping impacts
• Signatory and partner knowledge and engagement
• Landowner and land manager networks
• Policy frameworks related to woodland health
• Grey squirrel fertility control development
Goals
• Increase adoption of effective grey squirrel management
• Improve landowner engagement and integration in woodland plans
Core UKSA activities
• Identify how UKSA can support relevant country strategies and action plans
• Facilitate partnership working to benefit healthy trees and woods
• Facilitate expansion of landscape-scale activity within the UKSA project area
Partnership activities
• Promote and scale-up management actions – including new methods as they become available
• Share data on tree damage and effective responses
• Engage landowners in proactive protection
• Advocate for woodland resilience in policy and practice
Intended impact
A reduction in the level of bark stripping damage on UK trees and improved woodland health.

Research, Evidence & Monitoring

Objective
Robust evidence helps inform conservation, land management and policy decisions.
Need
Conservation, land management and policy decisions must be evidence based, but current data on squirrel populations, impacts and interventions is patchy, inconsistent or inaccessible.
Resources
• Fertility control research programme
• Monitoring networks and citizen science projects
• Partnerships with academic institutions
• UKSA subcommittees and working groups
Goals
• Improve accessibility and use of evidence
• Increase engagement in monitoring systems across the UK
Core UKSA activities
• Agree and promote national research priorities with signatories and academic institutions
• Oversee grey squirrel fertility control programme development and delivery
Partnership activities
• Seek to ensure research is delivering for identified priorities
• Improve engagement with monitoring and increase data access
• Address the issue of data standardisation
• Enhance and promote the UKSA resources library
Intended impact
Squirrel and woodland management decisions are guided by robust and collaborative evidence.

Policy & Advocacy

Objective
Policies & policymakers support the delivery of UKSA aims.
Need
Policy frameworks and political support are critical to address the threats posed by grey squirrels and enable conservation of native species and healthy woodlands.
Resources
• Government and political relationships
• Evidence from research and monitoring
• UKSA signatories and committee expertise
• Existing UK and devolved policy levers
Goals
• Policies are effectively implemented
• Policymakers are supportive of UKSA aims
Core UKSA activities
• Maintain constructive engagement with policymakers
• Identify key champions within the policy sector
• Support delivery of relevant country policies
• Provide evidence to policymakers
Partnership activities
• Contribute evidence for policymakers
• Encourage more delivery of key policies
Intended impact
UK and devolved governments are taking coordinated policy action to support red squirrel recovery and healthy woodland ecosystems.

Awareness, Engagement & Communications

Objective
Increased public & partner support for achieving UKSA aims.
Need
Public and partner support is essential to enable effective grey squirrel management and red squirrel recovery, but awareness is variable and opposition to management exists.
Resources
• UKSA brand, communications tools and messaging guidance
• Partner networks and platforms
• Campaigns such as Red Squirrel Awareness Week
• Stories, case studies and ambassadors
Goals
• Strengthen public understanding and visibility
• Expand community and youth engagement
Core UKSA activities
• Coordinate messaging and storytelling across partners
• Deliver public-facing campaigns and events
• Refresh and promote communications tools and content
• Publish a ‘State of UK Squirrels’ report based on available evidence
Partnership activities
• Support delivery of communications activities, campaigns and events
• Expand outreach activities
Intended impact
More people across the UK are informed and motivated to support UKSA and its aims.

Strategy Delivery

Over the past decade, UKSA has demonstrated the value of partnership working in tackling complex challenges facing the UK’s red squirrels, trees and woodland ecosystems.
The next five years provide an opportunity to build on that foundation. By working together, sharing knowledge and embracing innovation, we can accelerate progress towards red squirrel recovery, healthier woodlands and sustainable solutions to the impacts of grey squirrels.
UKSA will continue to provide leadership, coordination and opportunities for collaboration, helping partners align their efforts, share expertise and maximise their collective impact.
We invite signatories and stakeholders across the UK to play their part in delivering this strategy. Whether through practical action, research, advocacy, funding, communications or partnership working, everyone has a role to play.
Together, we can achieve more than any one organisation alone.