Quotes from our patrons

Ever since I can remember I have witnessed the retreat of the red squirrel due to the relentless advance of the larger, North American, grey squirrel. Thankfully, parts of Northumberland retain the reds and I still have the privilege of being able to observe red squirrel mother carry then suckle her baby not ten feet away from where I was standing – a sight I shall never forget. Now, though, the greys have invaded Northumberland and this heralds the start of an almighty struggle to preserve the red squirrels. Our reds are losing the battle on numerous fronts - predation by Goshawks, starved to death in an unfair competition with greys for food and, finally, fatally infected by the virus-carrying greys . We must try and stem the tide by drastically reducing grey squirrel numbers and by assisting the remaining red population – before it is too late.
   The Wildlife Ark trust also aims to conserve the water vole, another threatened native animal, whose secretive company has given me enormous pleasure whilst fishing. Water voles are hunted by mink and while the increasing otter population appears to reduce mink numbers a determined helping hand is needed if the water voles are to expand back to their historic range and the Trust aims provide that.

The harmless, questing vole and the friendly red squirrel must be saved from extinction. They form a perfect comparison with British sovereignty. Both are native to this ancient plot. Both developed over many centuries. As they face the threat posed feral mink and the grey squirrel, they battle against a foolishly introduced, foreign threat just like our ancient constitution.

I see the damage grey squirrels do to my trees. I strongly support a campaign to turn back the tide in favour of our native reds.

To help red squirrels we have to get rid of the greys. I hate killing animals but, as I see it, it’s the only way.

I grew up in Hampshire at a time when the red squirrel was still to be found in parts of the New Forest, and saw them driven out from there, and on Brownsea Island, where they still thrive.

When I was Bishop of Birkenhead one of my delights was to walk around the National Trust land at Formby Point, where the red squirrel was still to be found in abundance, but constantly under threat from those other species who competed against them, with greater strength, for food supplies.

The red squirrel is an important part of our ecology and our heritage. I long to see its numbers increase and I am therefore keen to support the Wildlife Ark Trust.

Human beings and the animals they have introduced are driving our native wildlife from the countryside and, unless measures are taken to protect them, native species like the water vole and the red squirrel will soon disappear from Britain as will many other species faced with loss of habitat and predation by introduced species. By acting now we can restore bio-diversity and recreate a living countryside in which species live in mutual equilibrium.

We are lucky enough to live in an area of Cumbria where there still are some red squirrels. It's such a delight to see one early in the morning on the wall by our cottage. We need to do everything we can to help preserve these lovely gentle little creatures.

Growing up in the south of England in the sixties I never got to see a red squirrel until I visited the Lake District. Ironically, now that I live here, the reds are being driven out by the greys. I love the little red squirrel, I miss them darting through the trees and scolding me for watching them. We must halt this decline.
I was into fishing when I was a kid. Every spare moment I was down at the lake. There were coots, moorhens and the ubiquitous "Ratty" or water vole. Of course, we kids always thought they were water rats and so we threw rocks at them. Fortunately we always missed. I bet if I went back to that lake today I would find no sign of "Ratty" and the place would be impoverished as a result.

“ If you value our native wildlife you should support the Red Squirrel Appeal. Normally, concerned members of the public have to wait patiently, sometimes very patiently, for government to get its act together before any action is taken to protect our wildlife. On this occasion, however, your readers can immediately influence the outcome of this major conservation effort to save our red squirrels. The red squirrel is one of our  flagship animals and, as such, its fate will be a major factor in determining the future wellbeing, or otherwise, of our other less charismatic species that are also under threat.”