The Isle of Wight is inviting everybody to "go nuts" as we help keep it a grey squirrel free zone by learning more about the Island’s indigenous red squirrel population at various events taking place during The Wildlife Trust’s National Red Squirrel Week (3-11 October).

The Isle of Wight is home to only red squirrels as the Solent provides a barrier to greys. It is an important stronghold for this species in Southern England, with shy and secretive red squirrels being found in most of its woodlands. On the Island, there is a waymarked red squirrel trail and hide in Parkhurst Forest, not far from Newport click here for details or see Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL29, Grid reference: SZ480900.

However, there have been occasional reports of greys on the Island and during Red Squirrel Week, visitors of all ages can attend a workshop and a walk which will help them to spot the signs of the Island’s much loved red squirrels while at the same time, reporting sightings of the possible grey invaders.

Sunday 4th October
A walk to look at the red squirrel habitat, learn how to look for squirrel signs and maybe spot one. To book a place on the walk, contact: Helen Butler on 01983 611003, e-mail: wightsquirrels@hotmail.com. Cost: Minimum donation £2 to the Wight Squirrel Project.

Friday 9th October
A workshop designed to show you how to make the most of your walks by looking for signs of red squirrels and recording what you see. Meet at Robin Hill Country Park, near Newport (www.robin-hill.com) at 1pm. To reserve a place on the workshop which lasts around 3 hours, please contact Helen Butler on 01983 611003, or e-mail wightsquirrels@hotmail.com The cost of £5 includes entrance to Robin Hill, plus a red squirrel computer programme, information pack, tuition, a walk around Robin Hill and light refreshments – bookings by 7 October latest.

A few facts about squirrels:
Red squirrels are the only squirrel native to the British Isles – it is illegal to release a grey squirrel into the wild.

Follow up:

Their colourings are hugely variable, ranging from bright ginger, red through to dark brown and they can even be tinged with grey.

Not only do grey squirrels out-compete reds, they carry the deadly squirrelpox virus, which is fatal to the reds.

Black squirrels are really grey squirrels with high levels of black pigment melanin in their hair. Once rare in Britain, black squirrels numbers are increasing every year and are likely to make life even harder for our native red squirrels.
Females can have 2 litters of 3-4 per year - young squirrels are called kittens.

Red squirrels are shy and secretive animals that spend the majority of their time high in the tree tops, dining on the seeds from pine cones, unlike the bolder greys that spend 70% of their time on the ground. October is a particularly good month to see red squirrels as they come down from the trees in search of additional food supplies such as hazel nuts

The Isle of Wight was the first place in the country to put rope bridges across busy roads to save small, fragmented populations of red squirrels from local extinction.

It’s simple to get to the Isle of Wight, there are up to 350 ferry crossings a day from Portsmouth, Southampton, Lymington and Southsea. Once you’re there it’s easy to get around, ferry routes connect directly with the Island’s road, rail and coach links.
For details on how to get to the Isle of Wight, where to stay and what to see and do, visit www.islandbreaks.co.uk or telephone 01983 813813.

Images: signs of red squirrels feeding and a red squirrel by Barry Angell.