The situation in Morpeth itself is getting worse day by day and is reaching a position where Christmas 2008 could be when reds no longer exist in the area.This tragic event is entirely down to Castle Morpeth BC who have shown a total lack of leadership,devoid of a strategy or plan and entirely uncommitted to preserving our reds.They have failed to attack the problem of the greys moving freely in the " Wansbeck Corridor" where their trapping procedures have been cruelly exposed as inadequate. It is only too obvious that a positive way of eradicating the grey is by identifying their dreys( nests) and carry out a controlled shooting. Dreys can have between 10 & 20 inhabitants and their elimination will have a major impact on their numbers.However there is an opinion that believes this could lead to "mass carnage" of other wildlife.Bearing in mind that it is estimated that 1 grey destroys 2 songbird nests a year collateral damage has to be expected as overall their will be an increase in bir numbers.

It is worth remembering that in June 2008 a red was found with the pox in Cottingwood Lane, many more have probably died in the area which is why sightings of greys in the area have increased sharply with the reverse situation regarding to reds.The greys have been allowed to establish themselves in the Bothal area where a certain estate refuses to implement an eradication program.There are at least 2 other estates in CMBC area who are refusing to assist also. What makes the matter worse is CMBC and Northumberland Wildlife Trust are aware of this but appear reluctant to challenge these estates to carry out some positive action.

After working with the villagers of Mitford and a couple of estates it is hoped that in the very near future a policy will be announced to attack the problem upstream of the village. However in the meantime Mitford down to Bothal has to be a priority and as CMBC have proved themselves to be unable and unwilling to take the matter seriously suggest they pass the responsibility down to myself where I can guarantee the commitment and effort will be total.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northumberland Wildlife Trust & Forestry Commission

 

Idlife Trust consider themselves to be the authoritive body on red squirrel conservation they are not going to concede there is a group far better equipped and experienced than themselves and closed ranks with their allies. This is where the Elgeeco trap enters the arena. Angelsey have bought nearly 200 of these traps, catching hundreds of greys and NEVER CATCHING A RED, as opposed to the other trap which has successfully caught greys but also reds some of which have died through shock.This truly is a damming indictment of the two agencies and highlights their ongoing incompetance and arrogance. It would also appear that The Wildlife Trust have put pressure on other parties not to purchase this trap, an unsavoury state of affairs and one that needs bringing into the public domain.

 

 

 

A body of a dominant grey male found in July at Worral Bank was infected with the deadly to reds virus and had signs of having been "sexually active"This confirms the worst possible fears that greys are now established in the Bothal Woods area. Greys have also been spotted either side of the road.This information has been deliberately kept out of the public domain as Castle Morpeth staff indicated it was not in their remit to pass the information on to the likes of Longhirst, Ulgham and Widdrington areas.On one hand we are told to get groups set up then they keep groups out of the loop. This is an absolutely disgraceful state of affair. Red squirrels are being used as a political football and strengthens the view that with the authorities it is just " talk talk talk ". We are now in a situation where all red squirrels North East of Morpeth could in the worst scenario be dead by this Christmas. The best I can give them is two years. There is no doubt that we have an apethetic public believing that the authorities are doing their best but abundantly clear to those who dig deeper and more concerned that the truth is completely the opposite.I have asked Ulgham Parish Council to take the initiative and be the 1st village to put in "fire prevention measures " for trapping greys passing through as opposed to trapping when greys have been spotted or reds found suffering from the pox. I await their decision with interest although the view they gave was reliance on the authorities for advice who have no fire prevention ideas at all. The overall view I finish up with is that National Government downwards we are being prepared for life without reds and this is working its way down the "pyramid" It really is sad that this amazingly beautiful, fragile and graceful creature is being betrayed in such an underhand and disgraceful manner which gives us humans no credibility at all.

Feb 2008 sees the introduction of 2 Elgeeco traps situated in Ulgham after being purchased by Ulgham Parish Council. This is an indication of how we, as a village in Ulgham are intent in defending our small colony of red squirrels as much as possible.The Council are to be congratulated in their forward thinking and accepting my view that waiting until greys are spotted or finding reds with the squirrel pox is too late.They will be strategically placed and I must appreciate the cooperation of the villagers involved. Nothing will please me more than in a years time or so reporting that we have not trapped any greys but alas I do not feel that confident. Only time will tell.

 

 

 

Email received from Squirrel Nutkin asking for the following slogan to be adopted " make my day, kill a grey" she felt this came off the tongue better than " make my days, kill greys " I do however agree.

Outbreak at Wallington in Oct 2007.

Seven reds have been confirmed as dying from a combination of the pox and a stomach infection in the past three weeks.Several greys have been shot and action is ongoing. The greys are thought to be using the River Wansbeck as a corridor and the authorities have still not had the sense to put in traps aimed at greys passing through areas but persist in waiting until sightings have been reported. It is also clear having contacted people in the Bothal area that some estates may not be helping at all and it is my intention to " Name & Shame " in the future. It is also abundantly clear of a complete lack of organisation and liason between the various agencies who appear to be more concerned with their own sensitivities than the problems of the reds. It would also appear that the writer was not invited to the recent seminar at Stannington because of my vociferous views.It is also clear that the danger to the reds is not the grey but is in fact the incompetance of the various organisations involved, that also includes some Parish Councils and the Borough Council and the County Council. I became interested just over a year ago when the Morpeth Herald published an article which gave the impression that Castle Morpeth were unique in having a policy regarding conservation of the reds. I soon found out that was not the case and here we are still in the same position. There is an awful amount of talking going on but very little action. It is abundantly clear that a " Supremo" needs to be appointed, preferably a military man to sort out this whole mess and give our reds some hope.

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