Yesterday I shared my surprise that the native red squirrel had been omitted from the Bank of England's wildlife shortlist for the next series of banknotes.
In less than 24 hours, hundreds of people have responded to our public poll, while many more have shared their views by email and across social media.
One message has come through loud and clear.
This was never really about a banknote.
It was about visibility.
Many people were not necessarily expecting the red squirrel to be chosen.
They simply wanted the opportunity to vote for it.
Supporters from across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Wight have contacted me. Conservation volunteers, wildlife enthusiasts, pensioners, parents and people who remember seeing red squirrels as children have all expressed the same concern.
Not anger.
Not entitlement.
Disappointment.
One supporter wrote:
"As a child, red squirrels were everywhere. Now they are nowhere."
Another said:
"I was looking forward to voting for the red squirrel."
Those comments go to the heart of the issue.
The explanation currently circulating is that red squirrels already appear on a Royal Bank of Scotland banknote.
If that proves to be the reasoning, many people will still feel it represents a missed opportunity.
The Royal Bank of Scotland is a commercial bank. Its notes are rarely seen outside Scotland. By contrast, the Bank of England issues the national banknote series used across England and Wales and recognised throughout the UK.
Around 80% of Britain's remaining red squirrels now live in Scotland. In England, they have disappeared from most of their former range and survive only in a handful of strongholds.
That is precisely why so many people expected them to be included.
For supporters of the campaign, a red squirrel on a national banknote would never have been simply about design.
It would have been a chance to remind millions of people that one of Britain's most recognisable native mammals is disappearing from large parts of the country.
It would have been a chance to start conversations.
A chance to inspire children.
A chance to raise awareness.
A chance to ensure that red squirrels remain part of Britain's future rather than simply a memory from its past.
Instead, many supporters feel that opportunity has been missed.
Red squirrels do not recognise national boundaries. Disease, habitat loss and population pressures affect their future across mainland Britain.
This matters because awareness matters.
Species rarely disappear overnight. They fade from landscapes, from public consciousness and eventually from national conversation.
The response to this poll suggests that people are not prepared to let that happen.
Thank you to everyone who has taken part so far. If you have not yet voted, you can do so here:
https://forms.gle/NhCsm9bdoepRvmT78
As many of you know, Save Our Reds is about more than raising awareness. Alongside the petition, we recently launched our Conservation Action Framework and our interactive map showing the dramatic decline of red squirrels across Britain.
You can find all campaign materials here:
I have also contacted the Bank of England press office in my capacity as Editor of Pets Magazine and founder of Save Our Reds. I have not yet received a formal response, but I will share any clarification if / when it arrives.
Thank you, as always, for your support.
Marie Carter-Robb
Founder, Save Our Reds
Photo: Red squirrel by David Knighton