Dear friends,

We’re now at 66,900 signatures – an incredible show of public support. But to create real political impact, we need a milestone that matters.

New target: 100,000 signatures by Red Squirrel Appreciation Day – 21 January 2026

This will give us the leverage we need for national press, political traction and policy change.

Please help us keep the momentum going.

 
Why this matters now more than ever...

Red squirrels are vanishing before our eyes. Once common across the UK, they now cling to survival in just a few strongholds.

Core populations remain in:

• Cumbria
• Northumberland
• County Durham
• Lancashire
• Parts of North Yorkshire

But even these are under threat.

Ancient red squirrel habitats are still being felled – with no requirement to check for wildlife first. Forestry England has admitted there is no plan to protect reds in some areas. Once gone, these woodlands take decades to recover – if they do at all.

At the same time, the invasive grey squirrel continues to spread. Introduced by the Victorians, greys outcompete reds for food and carry the deadly squirrelpox virus, which reds cannot survive.

The images of infected reds are harrowing. Blindness. Pain. Slow death. We should not allow this suffering to continue – especially not when there are still things we can do.

 
What we’re demanding:

🐿️ Enforce existing wildlife laws – and prosecute breaches when habitats are destroyed

🐿️ Protect at least 20% of all woodlands for biodiversity – not just timber

🐿️ Add red squirrels to the Habitats and Species Conservation Regulations 2017 – just like beavers

🐿️ Reform woodland grants to reward long-term red squirrel conservation and proper habitat planning

🐿️ Ensure wildlife impact assessments are mandatory before any large-scale felling in sensitive areas

 
What you can do right now:

Share the petition link with friends, family, local groups and your MP:

🔗 www.change.org/save-our-reds

Use the hashtags #SaveOurReds and #TheWoodsRemember to spread the word

Ask your MP to support the campaign – even a short message can help
 
We don’t need new laws – we need enforcement, political will, and public pressure.

Red squirrels are part of our ecological and cultural heritage. Losing them would be a national tragedy. Thank you for standing with me. Let’s give them the future they deserve.

With heartfelt thanks,

Marie Carter‑Robb
Founder, Save Our Reds campaign