Britain wasn't given the chance to vote for the red squirrel. So let's create something even better.

When the Bank of England revealed the shortlist for its new wildlife-themed banknotes, one small face was missing.

The red squirrel.

We asked you what you thought.

More than 500 of you replied.

Almost every single person said the red squirrel should have been included.

So instead of complaining, we decided to create something.

The People's Red Squirrel Banknote Project.

It's wonderfully simple.

What would Britain's red squirrel banknote look like?

Draw it.

Paint it.

Photograph it.

Design it.

Or simply scribble a squirrel on a piece of paper.

We've created a free banknote template if you'd like to use it, but you don't have to. Just send us your squirrel and, if you'd like, we'll happily do the banknote part.

Entries are already arriving from across Britain, each one completely different, proving there isn't one right answer.

The project runs until Wednesday 15 July, after which we'll create The People's Red Squirrel Banknote Collection and proudly share it with the Bank of England as a celebration of one of Britain's best-loved native mammals.

Because this has never really been about a banknote.

It's about visibility.

One supporter said something that has stayed with me ever since:

"As a child, our native red squirrels were everywhere. Now they are nowhere."

That's why this matters.

When a species disappears from everyday life, it begins to disappear from everyday minds.

And when it's forgotten, it's easier to lose.

This week our campaign reached another milestone.

More than 85,000 people have now signed Save Our Reds.

What began as a petition has grown into Save Our Reds CIC, bringing together supporters, scientists, conservationists, landowners and politicians behind a practical five-point Conservation Action Framework to help secure a future for Britain's remaining red squirrels.

Our approach has always been constructive.

Wherever possible, we want to work with governments, agencies and conservation organisations to find practical solutions.

But one thing is beyond debate.

Natural England has warned that, without urgent action, red squirrels could disappear from mainland England within the next 25 years. 

Doing something, however, can be wonderfully simple.

Draw a squirrel.

Share a memory.

Create a banknote.

Tell someone why red squirrels matter.

And if you haven't already, please add your name to the campaign.

Together, we're now more than 85,000 voices strong.

Next stop...

100,000.

Download the free template and find out more:

saveourreds.uk/campaign-latest

 
One final favour...

Dr Craig Shuttleworth's Welsh Senedd petition calling for greater support for squirrelpox vaccine research remains open until 19 July.

Save Our Reds supports this important work as part of our wider Conservation Action Framework. If you haven't already signed, we'd be hugely grateful if you could spare a moment to support it too.

Here's the link again: https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246919

Because every signature, every shared memory and every squirrel helps keep Britain's native red squirrel in the public consciousness.

It didn't make the shortlist.

Let's make sure it becomes unforgettable.

And finally!

Save Our Reds has been incredibly busy over the past few months, but we try not to send too many updates via Change.org as we'd much rather keep them for genuinely important news.

If you'd like to follow the campaign more closely, see new banknote entries, conservation news and behind-the-scenes updates, we'd love to welcome you to The Save Our Reds Official Campaign on Facebook:

facebook.com/groups/saveourreds

We'd love to see you there! 🐿️