A beautiful new children’s story about a young red squirrel is capturing national attention – at a time when the species faces extinction across much of England.
Little Red: Warrior Squirrel by journalist and campaigner Marie Carter-Robb (pictured below with Rufus, a Cavalier KC Spaniel) has just been published, inspired by her fast-growing grassroots petition calling on the UK Government to enforce long-ignored wildlife protections.
The petition is now approaching 70,000 signatures and has become one of Britain’s most widely supported conservation campaigns of 2025.
Little Red: Warrior Squirrel (Amazon link): https://amzn.eu/d/f2vG7PL
Petition: www.change.org/save-our-reds
A Disappearing Species. A Growing Outcry.
Once common throughout the UK, red squirrels have vanished from much of their historic range. Today, they survive in only a handful of strongholds – including parts of Cumbria, Northumberland and County Durham. Their greatest threat? The non-native grey squirrel, introduced from North America, which outcompetes reds for food and habitat and carries a deadly virus. Habitat loss adds further pressure.
Recent clear-felling of woodland once known to support reds – including plantations in County Durham and Northumberland – has left campaigners and local communities asking the same heartbreaking question: where have the squirrels gone?
Marie Carter-Robb says the book was written in response to the hundreds of families who asked how they could explain the issue to children:
“Little Red is a story of hope – but also a quiet warning,” she says.
“Children absorb emotional truths long before they understand laws and loopholes. I wanted to write something simple, beautiful, and real – a way for young people to care.”
From Petition to Picture Book
The petition, launched in August, has struck a national chord – with thousands of signatories sharing deeply personal memories, frustrations and fears for the species’ future.
Selected comments include:
“Can we really be so selfish and uncaring as a species to allow the red squirrel to disappear? I treasure the memory of every time I’ve seen one. We MUST do everything necessary to ensure their survival.” – Julie
“The red squirrel is iconic. We would lose part of our national identity if we lost them for good.” – Tanya
“I’ve never seen a red squirrel – and I’m 73. That’s just sad. I want it to be different for my great-grandchildren.” – Deborah
“I can’t remember the last time I saw a Red Squirrel. Their population is declining sharply, primarily due to habitat loss and competition from the non-native Grey Squirrel. We need to support conservation efforts immediately to save them before it’s too late.” – James
“Red squirrels aren’t just cute and fluffy – they’re a symbol of everything we’re losing.” – Frances
(From a selection of the many comments on the petition site: https://www.change.org/p/save-our-red-squirrels-enforce-protections-prioritise-habitat-in-uk-woodlands/feed)
A Powerful Foreword from Terry Abraham
The book includes a foreword by acclaimed wildlife filmmaker Terry Abraham, whose work includes the BBC documentary ‘Cumbria’s Red Squirrels’. He calls the story:
“A gentle but urgent reminder of what is at stake.
Our native red scamps epitomise nature conservation in the UK.
I’ve seen adults moved to tears watching them in the wild.”
Part of a National Wake-Up Call
The release of Little Red adds to a wider conversation about the enforcement of conservation laws in England. The petition argues that red squirrel habitats, though legally protected, are still being felled or fragmented with no consequence.
The proposed measures would help bring red squirrels in line with protections already afforded to species like badgers and beavers – giving conservationists and landowners stronger tools to safeguard their remaining strongholds.
Carter-Robb is calling on the Government to:
- Enforce current protections
- Prioritise red squirrel habitat in forestry decisions
- Stop the silent erasure of one of Britain’s most beloved native species
“We don’t need new laws. We need the will to act on the ones we already have,” she says.
“This is about more than squirrels – it’s about listening when nature speaks.”