The National Trust in partnership with the Fermanagh Red Squirrel Group held two separate events on Saturday 5th October at their Florence Court property to coincide with Red Squirrel Week.
The first event was a Squirrel Survey Training Workshop for squirrel group members and volunteers. The workshop gave guidance on how to set-up and undertake standardised surveys of local forests and woodlands to get a better understanding of red squirrel distribution and populations across the county.
The second event was a Red Squirrel Walkabout open to members of the public, led by the Trust’s Conservation Ranger and a red squirrel expert. It was a beautiful, sunny autumn day, perfect to look for signs of red squirrel activity and to learn a little about their behaviour. There is always the possibility of catching a glimpse of red squirrels at Florence Court although unfortunately the group didn’t spot any on Saturday!
The Fermanagh Red Squirrel Group is part of a network of groups and organisations across Northern Ireland who have been celebrating our native red squirrel during Red Squirrel Week. The county is a hotspot for the species with good populations spread across the county.
If you missed out on these events, there’s another opportunity this season to hear about red squirrel conservation action across the county. The FRSG are having an open public meeting on Wednesday 16th October at 7pm in the Tearoom at the National Trust’s Castle Coole property. After a tea break, members are invited to attend the group’s Annual General Meeting.
The Fermanagh Red Squirrel Group is also keen to hear from you if you have sightings of either red or grey squirrels in your area. You can report sightings via the website at www.fermanaghredsquirrelgroup.com or just log on to find out more about these iconic animals and what you can do to help protect them.
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