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Number: 07878 061 880 |
Latest
News :
Squirrel Survey
(Posted 17 November 2011)
Last years
cold winter and the recent outbreak of squirrel
pox have almost certainly had an effect on
Ponteland's red population. In order to get some
idea as to the numbers in Ponteland and its
surrounding area, we would like you to report all
sightings over a two week period starting on 20
November. For each sighting, we would like you to
tell us the number, the location and the
condition (healthy or unhealthy). If possible,
please submit repeat sightings during the period.
You can use the sightings form on this site
(click here), email the details to
Sally at sally@pontelandredsquirrels.co.uk or ring the hotline
number above.
We would also
like you to continue to report all grey
sightings, however, for these, please use the
hotline number above whenever possible.
Newsletter Issue
13 Published
(Posted 22 September 2011)
The latest
Newsletter is now available to view on-line,
click here to access. You will need
Adobe Acrobat to view which is now present on
most computers. If you don't have this program,
you can visit the Northern
Red Squirrels site which has a link to the
download facility.
Waitrose
Presents Cheque for £496 to PRS
(24
May 2011)
Waitrose
has very kindly donated a cheque for £496 to
Ponteland Red Squirrels from its excellent
Community Matters initiative. PRS would like to
express their thanks to Waitrose for this second
very generous donation which will be used to
further its efforts in maintaining a healthy red
squirrel population in Ponteland and its
surrounding areas. This is particularly important
this year as the squirrel pox virus and the hard
winter appear to have reduced our red squirrel
population. PRS would also like to thank all
those Waitrose customers who voted for PRS with
their green counters. It’s good to know that
our residents and local businesses support our
efforts to make Ponteland a safe haven for red
squirrels
Threat
to Ponteland's Reds Increases in 2010
(13
February 2011)
GREY
squirrel sightings have reached record levels in
Ponteland, but the fight goes on to save the
native reds.
The number of grey sightings around Ponteland and
Darras Hall has trebled in the past year, with
more than 40 spotted in 2010 compared with an
average of between 8 and 14 in previous years
The situation was the subject of a recent article
in the Morpeth Herald; click here to display.
Seventh
NRS Newsletter Published
(13 February 2011)
The seventh
Northern Red Squirrels Newsletter has now been
published. Click here to display a copy
(please note that you will need Adobe Acrobat
reader to enable you to do this. The Newsletter page facilitates
dowloading of this free software if you do not
already have installed on your computer).
Red
Squirrel Calendars
(8
January 2011)
We
still have a number of Ponteland Red Squirrels A4
sized 2011 calendars available at the reduced
price of £1.00 with free delivery if you live
locally, otherwise, postage and packaging is
£1:00. There is a different squirrel picture for
each month, click here to see an illustration
of the front cover and December. Please note that
you will need Adobe Acrobat to display this
illustration. Details on how to download if it is
not already on your computer are given on the NRS
Website.
If you would like to purchase one or more, please
contact Sally at pontelandredsquirrels@yahoo.co.uk.
Newsletter Issue
12 Published
(Posted 22 December 2010)
The latest Newsletter is now available to view
on-line, click here to access. You will need Adobe
Acrobat to view which is now present on most
computers. If you don't have this program, you
can visit the Northern
Red Squirrels site which has a link to the
download facility.
Red
Squirrels North England
(14
November 2010)
A new initiative has been
launched which is the biggest push yet to ensure
red squirrels survive in the North of England.
Red Squirrels North England (RSNE) will be a
five-year project backed by a total of more than
£3m in funding. Work on preparing the new
strategy and approach has been going on for the
last six months by a partnership of bodies
including Natural England, the Forestry
Commission, The Wildlife Trusts and the Red
Squirrel Survival Trust, a charity set up two
years ago and whose patron is Prince Charles.
More detail can be found in an article in the
Journal; click here to view.
Squirrel Pox Virus
Found in Darras
(Posted 31 October 2010)
This year has seen more
grey squirrels than usual coming into
Ponteland, Darras Hall and the
surrounding villages. As has been
highlighted many times, most greys carry
the squirrel pox virus which has very
little effect on them but which is deadly
to reds. For the first time, the influx
has resulted in the virus spreading to
our reds and two animals have been found
dead with the disease, the first in
Burnside and the second close by.
The significance of this development
cannot be understated. Red squirrel
populations have been wiped out in
similar circumstances in neighbouring
villages.
Hopefully, the virus can be contained,
however, we would ask for everyone's
co-operation in helping to prevent the
disease from spreading. Please call the
above hotline number as soon as possible
if you see a grey squirrel or a red
squirrel, dead or alive, that has
squirrel pox. Infected animals should be
relatively easy to recognise as they are
likely to have skin ulcers, lesions, and
scabs. The virus can also cause swelling
and discharge (from the lesions/scabs)
near the eyes, mouth, feet, and
genitalia. Additionally, squirrels that
fall victim to the disease often become
lethargic. Infected animals are said to
resemble rabbits with myxomatosis, in
that they are sometimes found shivering
and lethargic. Death normally follows and
is a relatively long and painful
experience.
The NRS website
has more detail and includes pictures of
infected squirrels. Please be aware that
the pictures are not a pretty sight.
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Red
Squirrel Calendars Available
(31
October 2010)
Thanks
to the very generous sponsorship of the
Automotive Group, a Ponteland Red Squirrels A4
sized 2011 calendar can now be purchased. There
is a different squirrel picture for each month,
click here to see an illustration
of the front cover and December. Please note that
you will need Adobe Acrobat to display this
illustration. Details on how to download if it is
not already on your computer are given on the NRS
Website.
The calendars are priced at £2:50 with with free
delivery if you live locally, otherwise, postage
and packaging is £1:00. They will make an ideal
Christmas present for friends and family and at
the same time, you will be helping to fund the
work aimed at preserving red squirrels in our
area. If you would like to purchase one or more,
please contact Sally at pontelandredsquirrels@yahoo.co.uk.
Grey Squirrels
Are Still Being Seen in Ponteland and Darras
(Posted 3 October 2010)
Sightings of
grey squirrels are still being reported in the
Ponteland and Darras Hall area. Remember that if
you do see one, please report as quickly as
possible, preferably by ringing the Hotline
number above. If this isn't possible, you can use
the sightings form on the site.
Squirrel
Fest 2010
(31
August 2010)
The annual 'Squirrel Fest' is a
day of family fun celebrating the red squirrel.
This year, it will be held on Sunday 26th
September at Brockhole, the Lake District Visitor
Centre on the shores of Lake Windermere. More
details can be found by clicking on this link.
Red
Squirrel Sightings Map for 2010
(27
July 2010)
For
those sightings that were reported before April,
the colour of the flag has been changed to
purple. We would be very please to receive
updates for these locations, either to let us
know that your squirrels are still around or that
they have not been seen for some time. We would
also welcome sightings for new locations.
| Grey
Alert Please
Call the Above Hotline Number Immediately
if You See a Grey Squirrel in the
Ponteland Area.
|
Influx
of Grey Squirrels into Ponteland and Darras
(Posted 6 June 2010)
At this time
of year, there is a tendency for male squirrels
to scout for new areas and these are often
followed by juveniles. Hence, the fact that there
have been several recent sightings in Ponteland
and Darras Hall is not surprising. The good news
is that thanks to the vigilance and support of
local residents, six grey squirrels have been
caught in just one week.
Ponteland Red Squirrels has also been active in
helping to reduce the numbers of grey squirrels
in neighbouring areas. Since January, 83 have
been caught in Wylam and with the help of a small
grant from the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, more
than 250 have been removed from the area covering
Prudhoe to Riding Mill. This reduces the numbers
coming into the Ponteland area but as has been
highlighted above, some still get through.
You Tube
Video of Local Squirrel
(Posted 26 April 2010)
One of our
supporters has added a video of a red squirrel in
his garden in Willow Way to You Tube. A link is
available on the Gallery 3 page which can be
found via the Picture Gallery link above. You can
also see it by clicking here.
Newsletter Issue
11 Published
(Posted 9 April 2010)
The latest Newsletter is now available to view
on-line. You will need Adobe Acrobat to view
which is now present on most computers. If you
don't have this program, you can visit the
Northern Red Squirrels site which has a link to
the download facility. Click here to access
Instructions
for Making a Squirrel Feeder and a Nestbox
(13
March 2010)
A
number of people have asked about making feeders
and nestboxes. Instructions on how to do so have
been added to the About Red Squirrels page.
Waitrose
Presents Cheque for £500 to PRS
(1
March 2010)
Waitrose
has very kindly donated a cheque for £500 to
Ponteland Red Squirrels from its excellent
Community Matters initiative. This was recently
presented by Rob Brewis, the manager of the
Ponteland store, to Sally, Penny and Margaret of
PRS. PRS would like to express their thanks to
Waitrose for this very generous donation which
will be used to further its efforts in
maintaining a healthy red squirrel population in
Ponteland and its surrounding areas. PRS would
also like to thank all those Waitrose customers
who voted for PRS with their green counters.
It’s good to know that our residents and
local businesses support our efforts to make
Ponteland a safe haven for red squirrels.
Sixth
NRS Newsletter Published
(1 March 2010)
The sixth
Northern Red Squirrels Newsletter has now been
published. Click here to display a copy
(please note that you will need Adobe Acrobat
reader to enable you to do this. The Newsletter page facilitates
dowloading of this free software if you do not
already have installed on your computer).
New Red
Squirrel Sightings Map for 2010
(15
February 2010)
Since
our Sightings map was introduced in 2008, it has
become apparent that red squirrels are still to
be seen in many parts of Ponteland and its
surrounding areas. However, the 2008/9 map
contains many sightings which are now historical.
Hence, for 2010, our aim is to create a more
accurate and up to date map of our squirrel
population and display it on the home page. To
achieve this, we will need your help - if you see
a red squirrel, please report it via the Sightings Form. We would appreciate it
if you could then provide periodic updates (every
2 to 3 months), to confirm that your squirrel is
still visiting, to inform us that the number of
squirrels visiting has changed or to let us know
that you haven't seen a squirrel for some time.
Red
Squirrel Calendars Sale
(12
January 2010)
The
Ponteland Red Squirrel calendars have sold very
well. There are still a few available and as we
are now well into the new year, they are being
offered at £2.50 (including P & P). If you
would like one, please contact Sally at pontelandredsquirrels@yahoo.co.uk.
Red
Squirrel Calendars Available
(13
December 2009)
Ponteland
Red Squirrels have produced an A3 calendar with a
different picture of our local squirrels for each
month. They are priced at £4:50 including
postage. If you would like one, please contact
Sally at pontelandredsquirrels@yahoo.co.uk.
Waitrose
Community Matters Initiative Donates £500 to PRS
(13
December 2009)
Ponteland
Red Squirrels would like to express their thanks
to Waitrose for their very generous donation.
This will be used to further our efforts in
maintaining a healthy red squirrel population in
Ponteland and its surrounding areas. PRS would
also like to thank all those Waitrose customers
who voted for PRS with their green counters.
Christmas Cards (Sold
Out)
(19 October 2009)
Christmas
cards and tags/labels are available to buy. These
are not on the Merchandise page which is
currently being revised, however, illustrations
of the cards can be seen by clicking on the
following links; card
1, card 2.
The cards are 11.7cm x 18.2cm and cost £4.50 for
10. The labels are a slightly different design
but contain the same squirrel pictures and cost
£1.50 for 10. Please contact Sally at info@northernredsquirrels.org.uk if you wish to purchase.
Fifth
NRS Newsletter Published
(15 October 2009)
The fifth
NRS Newsletter, which includes an article on the
recent Squirrel Fest, the grant obtained by
Morpeth Red Squirrels, RSST and other news from
the member groups, has now been published. Click here to display (please note
that you will need Adobe Acrobat reader to enable
you to do this).
New SOS
Sightings Maps
(4 October 2009)
SOS have
recently produced a set of Distribution
Maps for
sightings of both red and grey squirrels in
Cumbria and Northumberland during
June/July/August 2009. Please note that in the
maps (called Summer Sightings Maps) the green
dots show the grey squirrel sightings.
Further
Grey Squirrel Sightings, in Eastern Way
(Posted 31 August 2009)
A grey
squirrel has recently been seen in Eastern Way,
fairly close to Middle Drive. A second sighting
(possibly the same squirrel) was subsequently
seen further up the hill towards Hawthorn Way.
Please remain vigilant and call the hotline
number above if you see a grey squirrel in our
area.
Grey
Squirrel Sighting in Callerton Court
(Posted 24 August 2009)
A grey
squirrel has recently been seen in Callerton
Court. If you do see a grey anywhere in
Ponteland, please let us know immediately by
ringing the hotline number above.
Also, as many of the sightings of red squirrels
on our location map are from 2008, could you
please report your sightings of red squirrels
including comments as to the number seen and
whether or not they looked healthy.
Red
Squirrel Survival Trust Official Launch
(Posted 5 April 2009)
Prince
Charles officially launched the Red Squirrel
Survival Trust on 3 April during a trip to Levens
Hall near Kendal. This is detailed in the Hexham
Courant. The
Daily
Telegraph
also includes an article on the Prince's reasons
for supporting the work of the RSST.
Newsletter Issue
10 Published
(Posted 10 March 2009)
The latest Newsletter is now available to view
on-line. You will need Adobe Acrobat to view
which is now present on most computers. If you
don't have this program, you can visit the
Northern Red Squirrels site which has a link to
the download facility. Click here to access.
Ponteland
Red Squirrel Meeting
(Posted 6 March 2009)
The campaign to keep red squirrels
in Ponteland has been successful. However, the
number of people actively involved is very small
and to maintain the momentum, more volunteers are
needed. A meeting will be held on Tuesday 21st
April 2009 at 7:00pm in the United Reformed
Church on Broadway for anyone who would like to
help. More details will be posted on the site
shortly.
Red
Squirrel Survival Trust
(Posted 4 March 2009)
The Red
Squirrel Survival Trust is a national charity
that has recently been established to ensure the
conservation and protection of the red squirrel
in the UK. If you wish to know more about their
aims and work, click here.
Sightings Map
(Posted 4 March 2009)
Thanks to a
number of residents in Ponteland and Darras Hall,
the map (click to view) now
includes a number of recent sightings. In order
to keep the map up to date, we would welcome
repeat sightings. This will also enable us to
check whether or not the squirrel population in
the area is remaining stable.
Relaunch of
Northern Red Squirrels Website
(Posted 4 March 2009)
The Northern
Red Squirrels website has been redeveloped with a
new name, www.northernredsquirrels.org.uk.
Northern Red
Squirrels Newsletter Issue 3 Published
(Posted 4 March 2009)
This Newsletter is now available
on-line. Please note that you will need Adobe
Acrobat to read this document.
Northern Red
Squirrels Newsletter Issue 2 Published
(Posted 10 November 2008)
This Newsletter is now available
on-line. Please note that you will need Adobe
Acrobat to read this document.
Change to Hotline
Number
(Posted 22 October2008)
Please note
that because of network coverage problems, we
have changed our hotline number to 07732 644694.
Sightings Report
Form Added to Site
(Posted 18 October2008)
A form has
been added to the site to enable you to easily
report your sightings of red squirrels. This will
enable us to build a map of sightings in
Ponteland and its surrounding areas and will
contribute to the more extensive Save our
Squirrels map.
Newsletter Issue
9 Published
(Posted 23 September2008)
The latest Newsletter is now available to view
on-line.
Northern News,
Issue 1
(Posted 30 July 2008)
Our
'umbrella' organisation, Northern Red Squirrels,
has issued its first newsletter. This contains
information from various groups within the
northern region. Click here to display (you will
need Adobe Acrobat to display but if you do not
have this on your computer already, it mcan be
downloaded from the internet for free; visit http://www.adobe.com/products/reader/ and click on the free
download icon.
Can you
spare a little time?
Could you deliver
a few quarterly newletters to residents
on roads near to where you live? If so,
please contact us (pontelandredsquirrels@yahoo.co.uk).
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For
older news, you can visit the Archive page
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