This week is Red Squirrel Awareness Week (6–12 October) and a grassroots campaign is sounding the alarm: one of Britain’s most iconic native species is vanishing fast.

In 1903, when Beatrix Potter published The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, red squirrels were a familiar sight in gardens and woodlands across the UK and Ireland. Today, they survive only in isolated strongholds – and a beloved literary character has become a symbol of loss.

To mark the week, campaigners have released a powerful new infographic titled Then vs Now: The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, tracing red squirrel numbers from their estimated 3.5 million in 1903 to just 140,000 –160,000 today. In contrast, the non-native grey squirrel population has soared to around 2.7 million.

“This isn’t just about nostalgia – it’s about neglect,” says campaign founder Marie Carter-Robb. “We have the laws on paper to protect red squirrels, but they’re not being enforced. Habitat loss is continuing in known red zones, often with no mitigation. We are watching a collapse in slow motion.”

The infographic – designed to be shared across social and traditional media – highlights how red squirrels once ranged from Cornwall to Caithness. Today, they cling to life in scattered pockets such as Cumbria, Northumberland, Anglesey, the Isle of Wight, parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The petition – www.change.org/save-our-reds – has gathered almost 60,000 signatures. It calls on the UK Government to:

• Enforce existing wildlife protection laws
• Stop felling red squirrel habitat without full independent impact assessments
• Reserve at least 20 per cent of woodland for biodiversity, not just timber production
• Give red squirrels the same year-round legal protections as badgers

Backed by conservationists, volunteers and filmmaker Terry Abraham – whose BBC documentary Cumbria’s Red Squirrels helped bring the issue to national attention – the campaign is gathering momentum.

“Red scamps are a national treasure, full of character and charm,” says Abraham. “They symbolise what’s at stake in UK conservation and why wild spaces matter. 

“They are more than just a symbol – they’re ambassadors for nature conservation in the UK, living proof of how precious species help sustain and enrich our fragile ecosystems.”

Carter-Robb and her team say the release of The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin in 1903 marked a cultural milestone – but in 2025, it is no longer just a story. It’s a warning.

Caption 1:
Red squirrels like this one are now vanishing across much of England. In 1903, they were everywhere.

Caption 2
“Then vs Now: The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin” compares red squirrel population and range from 1903 to 2025 – and highlights just how much is at stake.