The Institute of Chartered Foresters welcomes the publication of the England Red Squirrel Recovery Strategy, an important milestone for woodland stewardship and species conservation across the country. As the professional body for forestry and arboriculture, we recognise the strategy’s strong foundation in evidence‑based management, its emphasis on resilient woodland design, and its commitment to coordinated action across landscapes and sectors.
The strategy sets out a clear pathway for protecting and enhancing England’s remaining red squirrel populations through targeted habitat management, strengthened strongholds, and long‑term monitoring. It also highlights the essential role of skilled practitioners – foresters, woodland managers, ecologists, wildlife managers and volunteers – in delivering sustainable, practical solutions on the ground.
We particularly welcome the strategy’s alignment with the grey squirrel policy statement for England. Together, these documents provide a coherent national framework: the grey squirrel strategy addresses the ecological pressures posed by grey squirrels, including bark stripping and disease transmission, while the red squirrel strategy outlines how to rebuild and sustain thriving red squirrel populations in landscapes where those pressures are effectively managed.
Taken as a pair, these strategies offer a balanced, integrated approach to woodland health – supporting biodiversity, improving resilience, and enabling professionals across the sector to work with clarity and shared purpose.
This is a statement from Dr Kristin Waeber MICFor (Senior National Specialist – Wildlife Management, National Trust) who represents the Institute on the England Red Squirrel Action Plan group.
