Project Plan
For the
UK Squirrel Accord
The brief for project plan
1. A project plan should be produced to articulate in more detail than is set out in
this description steps needed to deliver Accord aims. This will require a good
understanding of activity already underway and the support groups that already
exist. Accord work must be complementary not duplicating or competing with
existing groups.
2. Draft and Co-ordinate agreement of key messages for use by Accord members
to facilitate awareness raising both among the membership and in other forums
/ sectors as agreed with the committee.
3. The Manager will also expand the list of signatories as agreed with the
Management Committee and may make links with the many smaller squirrel and
forestry groups within the UK.
4. Work with Accord members to set up local scale co-ordination projects, to act
as demonstrators of good practice The website will be designed and set up
5. A meeting for the Accord signatories will be arranged, to share progress and
encourage wider engagement towards the end of the year to be an annual event.
6. With the committees support investigate options for longer term funding of
project manager post
7.Set up and engage in communication between and among the Accord
signatories and the committee, to ensure shared understanding of activity
underway and opportunities for collaboration on Accord aims are taken. This
mechanism can also act as a means of sharing good practice in activities that
deliver accord aims.
The Accord Priorities and the Project Plan
The project plan is based on the clear steer that was given in the UK Accord 27
Meeting with the top priority being:
 The area of public awareness and education
 Landowner and local group engagement.
 Research and development
 Co-ordination and communication.
A. Public awareness and education
Action Plan

Develop a 12-month Media strategy by briefing and working with the UK’s
TV and Radio Companies. Liaising closely with Defra family media
departments.
 Develop a marketing strategy that plays in the 32 Accord members
(businesses) to gain maximum public awareness.
o Investigate with Newcastle Business School whether a PhD or Masters
graduate would be interested in developing some research in how to
get the message over (using e-media) to the public on the importance
of Grey Squirrel control is important for the economic survival of UK
woodlands
B. Landowner and local group engagement.
The Action Plan:
Develop an agenda for action
 This agenda identifies six key activities that are needed in relation to grey
squirrel management and the actions required to deliver them. The action
plan will set out specific short-term actions and identify the lead
organisations and timescales involved. These actions build on activities
undertaken to date.

Many actions will need the participation of a wide range of stakeholders
(both within /with out of the Accord) and to ensure their success, and we
will be actively seeking to facilitate opportunities for stakeholders to
become increasingly involved. At the same time, we will work with and
build on existing partnerships to:

Ensure that all relevant landowners are aware of the impacts of grey
squirrels

Ensure that our advice on grey squirrel management is in line with this
strategy and national research and guidance available
1. Partnerships



The Accord partners will work in partnership with the Forestry
Commission, Forest Research, the European Squirrel Initiative, NFC and
other forestry organisations, as well as local landowners, agents,
contractors and the general public
Through working partnerships, we will seek to raise awareness of grey
squirrels and their impacts on UK Timber industry. We will encourage
landowners to carry out annual surveying of damage across UK Forest
and Woodland using a standardised simple approach
We will promote, with others, an understanding of the impacts of grey
squirrels to the general public.
2. Manage the impacts of grey squirrels



We will provide advice through our woodland management programme to
a wide range of landowners and managers on the impacts of grey squirrels
and the current and most effective control methods
We will provide funding, when possible (via FC & NE SRDP or RDPE) , to
support landowners to purchase equipment for effective grey squirrel
control and attend training in their control
We will promote collaborative management of grey squirrels across the
Forest through partnerships with landowners and partner organisations
3. Trial innovative methods of control


We will look to trial innovative control methods when available
National and international research and trials into control methods will be
monitored and appropriate action taken if found to be effective
4. Ensure that grey squirrel management is delivered in a responsible,
competent and humane manner



Through partnerships we will pass on best practice from national research
and advice into control methods to local land managers and owners
We will promote national training initiatives and best practice courses
We will provide training opportunities through our Woodland Owners Club
events focusing on the impacts of grey squirrels and effective methods of
humane control
5. Research and Monitoring






We will keep abreast of requests for grey squirrel data and advise
landowners accordingly
We will look to support research into grey squirrel behaviours and
management
We will monitor national research and pass on information to local
contacts
Through training landowners and the general public we will look to
implement regular local impact monitoring
We will look at levels of damage resistance of alternative tree species
Where live or instant kill traps are used and carcasses collected, we will
encourage landowners to send data or carcasses for research purposes
when required
6. National Exemplar Role






We will explore, support and implement collaborative management of grey
squirrels where it is deemed appropriate
We will look to support national initiatives and research where appropriate
We will provide funding, where available, to manage grey squirrels
We will look to share experiences and case studies (including successes
and any failures), where appropriate, with partners
Develop linkages with local groups.
Work with both groups to maximise the RDPE budget for 2016 for CS
forestry options and CS mid-tier Red Squirrel connectivity options across
farmland linking RS habitats such as hedgerows to RS friendly woodlands.
Our project plan in Broadleaf trees with predominant grey
squirrel populations.
The drivers of this strategy are:



FC Document Policy & Action for Grey Squirrels and England’s
Woodland 4 December 2014. FC will develop a new measure of
grey squirrel impact in 2015. FC will report on the impact of grey
squirrels on forestry using data from the NFI survey.
The economic loss of £14m of Broadleaved woodland in England
damaged by GS.
Following the loss of Ash to chalara (ash dieback caused by the
Hymenoscyphus fraxineus fungus) the request of the woodland
owner what do I plant now as all the other trees available are
subject to GS damage.
The Development of a Strategic Risk Map which will lead to the creation of
a Vulnerability Index. We look at woodlands that are:



High risk. Woodlands between 10 – 23 years old
Medium risk. Mature woodlands >25 years old
Low risk. Young woodlands <10 years old and Mature Parkland
What is involved?
UK Squirrel Accord Manager; Red Squirrel Survival Trust, Natural England &
Forestry Commission produce a risk-based map, with woodland classified by
age.
 Use National Forestry Inventory to create the vulnerability index using
the FC woodland map and database resource.
 Identify working circles where collaborative effort could be implemented
 Identify ‘holding areas’ for squirrels (e.g.: mature broadleaved/mixed
woodland; parkland; urban areas).
 Assess most vulnerable woods in relation to holding areas (eg: woods
with commercial objectives; critical age; critical species; height of
trees).
 Targeting resource: Use the map to help focus squirrel management
targeting:
o Monitoring of populations/damage/effects of control
o Activity
o Specialist advice
o Grant support – mostly from RDPE/CS
 Target RS Expansion areas in:
 Borders of North & South England (So RSNE can roll
their programme southwards)
 Wales Can roll their programme out in Midwest England
 South West Squirrels can roll out their programme into
South West Counties (Somerset?)
 Timescale
 Desktop research complete by October 2015
GS Control Pilot (National Forest Company & British Association Shooting
and Conservation Partnership)
 Develop a new strategy (post Warfarin) for managing GS Control
 Partnership development of Baited Station Shooting alongside the
development of Woodland Clubs so outside shooters can be part of
the GS control process. (BASC will use the same model as their
national Wildfowling Club programme to generate the trust between
Landowners and their Gamekeepers and local shooters)
Awareness raising of GS damage.
 Lead from Confor and RFS to lead in awareness days. Organise
site-based seminars to identify damage (and distinguish from other
types of damage eg: rabbits); discuss control methods; identify
sources of advice/specialist help. Use estates where control is
underway.
o Support from the 5 x FC England local teams);and
o NE / Countryside Stewardship Team.
o UK Accord Manager will coordinate this.
 Supported by Confor and RFS
 5 x FC (England Teams) FC; Forest Research; partner
organisations x 32 Signatories, Woodland owners NFC Woodland
Owners Group
 Public awareness raising strategy
What is involved?
 Squirrel management issues (amongst other maintaining quality
issues) to be a focus of future Committee meetings.
 Consider wider public awareness raising through the media. Set
this within the context of an overall communications plan.
 Site signage to be implemented where damage is taking place to
 better educates the public of the need.
Monitoring, research and dissemination



Verification for FC on GS Control options within the RDPE / Country
side Stewardship Scheme.
Population monitoring in high risk areas
o Surveys of selected ‘holding areas’ adjacent to high risk
woodlands before and after control. Target pilot/priority areas
only.
Woodland damage surveys
o Surveys of selected ‘at risk’ sites, focusing on particular species,
severity of damage, age, size and height of trees affected and
occurrence of damage over time. Link surveys to evaluating
control activities.
o Develop landowner self-assessment monitoring forms for the
above; as well as considering contracted out help as needed.

Long-term research site/s
o Explore the potential for developing a joint research site/s with
Forest Research to monitor damage over time and establish
links with national research programed.

Case study sites
o Initiate an inventory of locations where successful squirrel
management is underway and reducing damage, which can be
readily updated/added to. I
o Identify case study sites, which can be used for on-site
seminars, to promote good management practice to other
woodland owners.
Who is involved?
Accord members; FC; RSST; UKSAM; woodland owners/ managers
Practical advice and support
Establish control methods
Understand grant support for management
The Accord will promote a variety of best practice control methods to woodland
and other landowners through providing practical advice and examples of
successes and failures.
In discussions with FC through RDPE & SRDP provide grant funding for squirrel
management at woodland sites through its Woodland Management Grant. The
Accord will:




Identify & focus effort on mature woodlands with squirrel populations
that provide a critical threat to national Biodiversity Action Plan species.
Support FC woodland officers to provide practical advice to woodland
owners, through Tender Scheme, Changing Landscapes Scheme,
Woodland Management Grant and EWGS site inspection processes.
Compile advisory information on - practical management options;
contractors undertaking management; financial incentives available.
Apply best management practice arising from national research and
other successful control programmes.