It’s The Reds v The Greys.
The Prince of Wales has asked landowners to wipe out grey squirrels from the countryside to protect red squirrels and to save our native woodlands. He has told the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) that it is “absolutely crucial to eliminate the greys”.
As we all know, the Prince of Wales can call upon some hefty influence when he feels something very strongly
I’m not sure where I sit with this one. We have a little grey squirrel who visits us every day. He runs all the way around our perimeter wall, along the fence jumps down on to the road and hurries along to the house at the end of the drive. The lady there feeds him nuts everyday. He has given us so much amusement and entertainment, the thought of wiping him out seems outrageous to me.
Grey squirrels were introduced to Britain from the US in the 19th century and has an estimated population of 3.3 million, compared with 160,000 reds. Red squirrels numbers are increasing which is great as in fact they are making a comeback from near extinction.
Prince Charles has blamed grey squirrels for the “immense and increasing damage” to woods and wildlife across the country. The Prince, who is patron of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, believes it would make all the difference not only to the survival of an iconic native species, but also to the success of all efforts to restore and enhance our native hardwoods.
The push for a grey squirrel cull coincides with a wider campaign by the CLA to revive the woodland industry in England and Wales. It believes that greater incentives to plant and grow trees will help to tackle climate change, protect wildlife and offer more opportunities for people to get out into the countryside.
Landowners are baffled as to the lack of urgency in tackling the grey squirrels.
They claim the grey squirrel damage thousands of maturing trees by stripping off the bark, estimated to cost more than £1 million a year, without taking into account the loss of red squirrels, woodland birds and dormice.
Who would have believed a cute little grey squirrel was capable of all that, they’re only awake half the year!
