New poll: 99% of Britons want stronger protections for reds – campaigners release major public report on Red Squirrel Appreciation Day today (Wednesday, 21st January).
A new national poll and detailed public report released today have revealed overwhelming demand for urgent Government intervention to protect the UK’s red squirrels – a species now at risk of vanishing from England altogether.
The Save Our Reds campaign, led by journalist and animal welfare advocate Marie Carter-Robb, commissioned the “Most People Don’t Know” Red Squirrel Awareness Poll during November-December 2025, capturing 1,590 responses from across the UK. The findings are presented in a newly published report, available to download here: Save Our Reds Report
The results show a public united in concern – and calling for immediate action:
- 99% want stronger protection of red squirrel habitats
- 97% support mandatory wildlife impact assessments before any tree-felling in red squirrel areas
- Almost 40% have never seen a red squirrel in the wild
Released to coincide with Red Squirrel Appreciation Day (21 January), the report also highlights widespread emotional attachment to red squirrels, with hundreds describing them as “beautiful,” “irreplaceable,” and “a national treasure that must be saved.”
Marie Carter-Robb, Founder of Save Our Reds, said:
“This isn’t just about saving a beautiful woodland creature. Red squirrels are part of our ecological and cultural identity. They belong to our childhoods, our countryside and our collective memory – and yet their future now hangs by a thread. The public has spoken with extraordinary clarity. Government must act before it is simply too late.”
A species slipping into memory – and myth
The report reveals that only 61% of respondents had ever seen a red squirrel in the wild, while 39% never had – a figure that starkly illustrates the species’ retreat to a handful of strongholds in Cumbria, Northumberland and parts of Scotland.
From Beatrix Potter’s Squirrel Nutkin to the Tufty Club, red squirrels have long held a place in the nation’s imagination – but are now out of reach for millions.
Current UK red squirrel estimates range between 160,000 and 270,000, with 75-80% of those in Scotland. In contrast, there are now 2.7 million grey squirrels – an invasive species introduced in the 1870s that outcompetes reds and carries the lethal squirrelpox virus.
The public understands what’s at stake – and wants action now
The new report reveals both public empathy and a clear policy mandate. The vast majority of respondents agreed that red squirrels:
- Represent a vital part of British natural heritage
- Deserve far stronger protection in law and policy
- Are being failed by a lack of enforcement and planning safeguards
The full report also captures deep public feeling – from childhood memories to fears of loss. One wrote: “They are a living reminder of the Britain we grew up believing in. To lose them would be to lose a piece of who we are.”
Terry Abraham, filmmaker and red squirrel advocate, said:
“Red squirrels are more than just an iconic species – they’re a symbol of Britain’s vanishing wilderness. I’ve witnessed the dedication of local volunteers, who give their time year after year to protect these animals, often with little support or recognition. It’s time government policy caught up with the reality on the ground.”
Sue Fowler, a County Durham-based conservationist, added:
“Without local eyes on the ground, many red squirrel habitats would be lost without anyone noticing. Volunteers are doing everything we can – but we need proper policy and protections in place before it’s too late.”
70,000 and rising: a public petition with teeth
The Save Our Reds petition (www.change.org/save-our-reds) has now attracted over 70,000 signatures.
It calls for urgent and enforceable measures to protect England’s dwindling red squirrel populations, including:
- Enforcing existing wildlife laws and extending the highest legal protections to red squirrels
- Requiring wildlife impact assessments before any felling in red squirrel areas
- Reserving at least 20% of sustainable woodland for biodiversity
- Reforming and promoting conservation grants for landowners committed to red squirrel recovery
King Charles, Patron of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, has described red squirrels as “ambassadors for nature.” They now appear on the UK’s new 2p coin – a potent reminder of what we still stand to lose.
Marie Carter-Robb has also written the children’s book Little Red: Warrior Squirrel – a story of one red’s mission to save her woodland home – to support the campaign. Aimed at schools and families, the book hopes to spark curiosity about biodiversity, woodland protection, and the role young people can play in safeguarding nature.
She added:
“We’re urging decision-makers to listen to the people. Red squirrels can still be saved – but only with real protection, real enforcement and real political will. The woods remember. And so do we.”
PHOTO: Al Milby Animal Photography.