Events
A calendar of red squirrel conservation or tree health related events from the UK Squirrel Accord and various partners and stakeholders. Add your event to this page by emailing info@squirrelaccord.uk. Watch recordings of previous online events via our YouTube channel.
Upcoming and awareness events…
Red Squirrel Awareness Week – 02-08 October 2023
Celebrate the UK’s remaining red squirrels. Help raise awareness and join the events.
Great Scottish Squirrel Survey – 02-08 October 2023
Report sightings of red and grey squirrels across Scotland during Red Squirrel Awareness Week.
Guided walk at Eskrigg Nature Reserve – 02 October 2023 – 11:00-13:00
Join Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels’ South-West Project Officer and the Annandale Volunteer Red Squirrel Group for a guided squirrel walk around Eskrigg Nature Reserve.
Cumbrian Red showing – 02 October 2023 – 19:00
Watch Terry Abrham’s new red squirrel documentary at the Phoenix Theatre in Blyth. Free event thanks to Cramlington & District Red Squirrel Group.
SOS: Save Our Squirrels webinar – 03 October 2023 – 12:00-13:00
Join this Mammal Society webinar to celebrate red squirrels with Nicole Still of Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, wildlife photographer Dani Connor and wildlife presenter Billy Heaney.
Red Squirrel Conservation Update webinar – 04 October 2023 - 10:00-12:00
Annual UK Squirrel Accord webinar on red squirrel conservation across the UK with Chris Tucker of Natural Resources Wales, Nicole Still of Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, Katy Bell of Ulster Wildlife Trust, Rebecca Isted of Forestry Commission and UK Squirrel Accord’s Kay Haw.
Red Squirrel Monitoring Techniques webinar – 04 October 2023 – 14:00-16:00
Learn how to monitor red squirrels using various techniques like live trapping, radio tracking and bioacoustics. With William Cresswell of Bristol University, Louise de Raad of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Emma Roberts of the University of Galway and UK Squirrel Accord’s Kay Haw.
Guided walk at Tarras Valley Nature Reserve – 07 October 2023 – 10:00-12:00
Join Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels’ South-East Project Officer and the Esk Valley Volunteer Red Squirrel Group for a guided squirrel walk around Tarras Valley Nature Reserve.
Glenarm Forest Red Squirrel Safaris – 07 October 2023 – 10:00
Join the Glens Red Squirrel Group in Glenarm Forest in the Glend of Antrim, Northern Ireland, for a guided safari to enjoy the local red squirrels.
Squirrel Session at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Balmaha Visitor Centre – 07 October 2023 – 12:00-15:00
Meet Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels staff and learn more about the project and the vital conservation work that is happening in the local area. Talks & Q&As at 12:00 and 14:00.
08 May ~ The Big Help Out
To mark His Majesty The King’s Coronation, organisations across the country are getting together to encourage people to help out in their local communities. To support red squirrels you could volunteer with or donate to a local red squirrel community group and/or report your squirrel sightings.
09-15 May ~ Plant Health Week
Help raise awareness of the tree impacts of grey squirrel bark stripping damage and share evidence using #planthealthweek and #barkstripping. Link to our video on Twitter.
10 May ~ 10:00-12:00 ~ Grey squirrel impact assessment webinar
The National Forest’s Ed Hiorns provides an overview of how to use the grey squirrel impact and assessment methodology to assess bark stripping damage to trees in woods. This can contribute to a better understanding of damage levels and to more effective management. Register here for the joining link.
13-21 May ~ Urban Tree Festival
See the website for details coming soon: https://urbantreefestival.org/
15-21 May ~ Invasive Species Week
An in-person training event will be delivered at The National Forest. It will focus on how to conduct the grey squirrel impact assessment using the methodology. This will link to the weekend’s Get INNSvolved events. Find out more.
01 – 07 June ~ Volunteers’ Week
05 June ~ World Environment Day
06 – 12 June ~ Garden Wildlife Week
28 August ~ World Nature Conservation Day
October ~ Squirrel Awareness Month
Red Squirrel Awareness Week 02-08 October 2023
03 October ~ World Habitat Day
04 October ~ World Animal Day
24 – 30 October ~ National Mammal Week
26 November – 04 December ~ National Tree Week
26 November – 04 December ~ National Tree Week
01 December ~ Tree Dressing Day
21 January ~ Red Squirrel Appreciation Day
11 February ~ International Women and Girls in Science Day
03 March ~ World Wildlife Day
21 March ~ International Day of Forests
22 April ~ International Mother Earth Day
Past events - catch up on recordings of and/or information from previous events
UKSA grey squirrel fertility control research update webinar - July 2022
Watch the update on our research into a grey squirrel oral contraceptive and species specific feeding hopper, funded by the UK Squirrel Accord and supporters. Now in the fourth of the five-year project, the expert Animal and Plant Health Agency team carrying out the research discuss achievements during our third year and work taking place this year. A Q&A follows the presentations.
Red Squirrel Conservation UK Update 2021 - September 2021
Watch the video of UK Squirrel Accord’s red squirrel conservation update webinar for Red Squirrel Awareness Week 2021. Catch up on the UK-wide situation from leading professionals working to protect and enhance red squirrel populations in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales. Hear from Dr Mel Tonkin of Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, Katy Bell of Ulster Wildlife, Stephen Trotter of Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Dr Craig Shuttleworth of Red Squirrels Trust Wales.
Woodland invasives: grey squirrels webinar - May 2021
Watch a recording of our webinar for Invasive Species Week 2021. Conservation professionals Kay Haw, UK Squirrel Accord, Heinz Traut, Red Squirrels Northern England, and Bridget Johnson, Knowsley Safari, offer an overview of woodland invasives with a focus on the issues grey squirrels pose to broadleaf tree health and endangered red squirrels in the UK, and the importance of managing negative impacts.
UKSA fertility control research update - March 2021
An online event to mark the mid-point of our grey squirrel fertility control research project. Hear updates on progress from the expert Animal and Plant Health Agency team - Dr Giovanna Massei, Rebecca Pinkham, Sarah Beatham and Simon Crofts - conducting this research being funded by the UK Squirrel Accord and supporters. Watch a video of the presentations and Q&A session.
National Tree Week webinar - December 2020
Launch of our grey squirrel tree damage short film. Alongside talks from Fera Science Ltd’s Dr Charles Lane, on tree pests and pathogens and the potential for grey squirrel bark stripping to exacerbate these tree health issues, and the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s Dr Giovanna Massei, discussing human-wildlife conflicts and grey squirrel fertility control research. Watch a video of the webinar.
Grey squirrel damage webinar - September 2020
Leading woodland professionals - Graham Taylor, Daniel Small and David Bliss - discuss the impacts and challenges created by grey squirrel bark stripping, and work to protect trees from this damage in a webinar to mark National Plant Health Week 2020. It includes an introductory message from Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). Watch a video of the webinar.
Red Squirrel Conservation Update webinar - September 2020
Leading experts from around the UK - Stephen Trotter, Craig Shuttleworth, Katy Bell, Michael Stinson and Mel Tonkin - provide updates on red squirrel conservation work from the four countries and answer key questions from attendees in a webinar to celebrate Red Squirrel Awareness Week 2020. It includes an introductory message from Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). Watch a video of the webinar.
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