Our beautiful native red squirrels are under threat of extinction, but we are committed to helping save them in the Upper Tweed Valley and across Scotland. Donate now to help us protect this iconic species for future generations.

The problem

Native red squirrel numbers in the UK have fallen drastically in recent years to around 120,000–160,000. This alarming decline is the result of habitat loss and the spread of invasive, non-native American grey squirrels, which outcompete our native reds for territory and food and carry deadly squirrelpox – a virus that doesn’t harm them but is fatal to reds.

Scotland is the red squirrel’s last stronghold and home to approximately 75% of the UK’s population. Without conservation it is estimated that the red squirrel will be extinct in England within the next 10 years. The rest of the UK will follow.

The solution

We are working to protect this charismatic and captivating animal. Tweeddale Red Squirrel Network is one of 20 volunteer networks set up by Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels Now, it’s time for us to go it alone.

We are working hard to become a fully independent organisation and we need your help. Staffed entirely by local volunteers and with an area of more than 39,000 hectares covering the Upper Tweed Valley from Broughton in the West to Caddonfoot and Yair in the East, there’s a lot to do!

To fund our work, we are reliant on public donations and fundraising. £3000 will make a huge difference over the next few years, helping us to expand our volunteer network to carry out essential conservation work, raise public awareness, run events with local schools and other organisations, and partner with other local groups to promote conservation in our area.

Here are just some of the ways your kind donations can help:

£5 buys the materials to build a wooden feeder box to monitor squirrel populations

£12 buys a squirrel monitoring pack for a local primary school class

£20 buys a hand-held USB microscope to run field projects with schools

£20 buys specialist cleaning equipment to help prevent the spread of squirrelpox virus

£100 buys a trail camera, batteries and charger for essential monitoring work.

£1000 buys a gazebo to run local events, engage with the public and raise awareness – and we can share this with our fellow volunteer networks across the Scottish Borders.

All photographs © Mike Lamont