A national conservation campaign backed by more than 83,000 people is calling on the Government to give Britain’s native red squirrels the same level of legal protection already afforded to beavers, in a move it says could be delivered within months through a simple amendment to existing legislation.

Save Our Reds CIC is urging Ministers to add red squirrels to The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, arguing that one of Britain’s best-loved native mammals should not receive weaker protection than a species reintroduced after centuries of absence.

The proposal is a key recommendation of campaign’s Conservation Action Framework and follows publication of Natural England’s Red Squirrel Recovery Strategy, which warns that red squirrels face a high probability of extinction across mainland England within 25 years under a “do nothing” scenario.

The campaign says the change could be made through secondary legislation, using the same legal mechanism employed when beavers were added to the Regulations in 2022. No new primary legislation would be required.

Beavers were added to the Regulations in 2022

Marie Carter-Robb (pictured), founder of Save Our Reds CIC, said:

“If a species reintroduced after centuries of absence can receive this level of protection, a native species that has lived here for thousands of years should not be left with less.

“Red squirrels are now hanging on in just a handful of strongholds across England. Recent concerns surrounding forestry operations within the Kielder landscape have further highlighted the need for stronger safeguards for remaining red squirrel habitats. We believe the law should reflect the reality facing red squirrels and provide stronger protections before more of these vital strongholds are lost.”

Red squirrels are already protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, but the campaign argues this falls short of the stronger habitat-focused protection beavers now enjoy. Listing red squirrels under the 2017 Regulations would make it an offence to damage or destroy the places where they breed and shelter, bringing far greater scrutiny to activities affecting key habitats.

The campaign says the amendment is deliberately practical and achievable. Unlike many conservation measures that require years of research, consultation or implementation, extending Habitats Regulations protection to red squirrels could be achieved relatively quickly through an established legislative route.

Dr. Craig Shuttleworth, one of Britain’s leading red squirrel conservationists, said:

“We are now perilously close to losing red squirrels from large parts of Britain. In many areas, it feels like we’re not at the eleventh hour, but eleven seconds to midnight. We have the knowledge, the legislation and the conservation expertise. What is needed now is the political will to ensure those protections are properly applied and enforced.”

Marie Carter-Robb added:

“We are not suggesting this is a silver bullet. Red squirrels face a range of pressures, from habitat loss to disease and competition from grey squirrels. But stronger legal protection is a practical step that could be taken now.

“The legal route already exists. The precedent is already there. The question is whether Government is prepared to act before further red squirrel strongholds are lost.”

Multi-award winning wildlife filmmaker Terry Abraham, Save Our Reds CIC’s first official ambassador (pictured), commented:

“Red squirrels are one of our most iconic native mammals. The public clearly cares about them and it’s time their protection matched their importance.”

The proposal sits alongside the campaign’s wider calls for stronger enforcement of existing wildlife law, mandatory wildlife impact assessments before woodland felling, delivery and independent auditing of biodiversity commitments, increased ranger support in red squirrel strongholds, and continued investment in squirrelpox vaccine and grey squirrel fertility control research.

The campaign’s petition, launched in 2025, has now attracted more than 83,000 supporters and is supported by conservationists and red squirrel groups across Britain including Craig Shuttleworth and Terry Abraham.

The campaign’s full Conservation Action Framework can be viewed at:

https://saveourreds.netlify.app/framework.pdf

Petition:

https://www.change.org/save-our-reds

Further information: www.saveourreds.uk

Photo: David Knighton