A major survey to assess the damage caused to trees and woods by non-native grey squirrels – last estimated to cost England and Wales £37 million a year – is being launched across the UK.

The UK Squirrel Accord is asking landowners, managers and anyone with owner permission to carry out tree damage surveys in woods to better understand the bark stripping impacts of grey squirrels across the UK.

Using the National Forest’s monitoring method, the UK Squirrel Accord encourages the surveying of woods to assess the damage being inflicted on trees by invasive grey squirrels. Then report it on UKSA’s tree damage survey for 2025 by the end of December to build a national picture. The results are also useful for feeding into individual management plans and actions.

This can take place in any wood with permission. The methodology involves walking through the woodland and recording fresh and cumulative grey squirrel tree damage at regular intervals. All the guidance and forms can be found online.

Grey squirrels pose one of the greatest threats to the creation of healthy new woods for the future. Their bark stripping activities damage, stress and kill young trees needed for all the important functions they provide, such as carbon sequestration and flood management. Healthy trees and woods are also vital for native species, including red squirrels whose survival is also threatened by introduced grey squirrels.

Further information with links to the method, recording sheet and survey are on the UK Squirrel Accord website: https://squirrelaccord.uk/tree-damage-survey/

Kay Haw, UK Squirrel Accord, said: “We need to protect the UK’s trees and woods from threats that include grey squirrels. Damage from bark stripping reduces the ability of woodland ecosystems to deliver important functions. We hope people will get involved in this survey to help us build a clearer understanding of the problem we face.”

Ed Hiorns, National Forest, said: “This is an important opportunity to collate activity and impact assessment scores across the country. The survey has been specifically designed to allow woodland owners and managers of all backgrounds to monitor grey squirrel damage and to help understand the impact. This can provide a key insight and driver for grey squirrel management, which should absolutely be at the forefront of every woodland owner and manager’s mind.” 

For more information, please contact the UK Squirrel Accord via info@squirrelaccord.uk

 

Image: Grey squirrel damage to beech in North East Wales