The Institute of Chartered Foresters welcomes the publication of the UK Government’s Grey squirrel policy statement: managing the impact of grey squirrels and supports its commitment to addressing the significant and ongoing impact of grey squirrels on England’s woodlands. The Institute was one of the founding members of the UK Squirrel Accord, a partnership of 47 leading conservation and forestry organisations, government agencies and companies across the UK, working together to protect red squirrels and broadleaf trees from the negative impacts of grey squirrels.
Grey squirrels remain a major constraint on sustainable woodland creation and management. Bark stripping damage reduces timber quality, weakens trees and limits long term woodland resilience. At the same time, competition and disease pressure from grey squirrels have driven the decline of the native red squirrel, which is now endangered in Great Britain.
The policy’s focus on coordinated action over the next five years is consistent with the Institute’s position that effective grey squirrel management requires a long term and landscape scale approach. The Institute supports the emphasis on:
- Sustained and coordinated management efforts that deliver cumulative impact
- Investment in research and innovation, including fertility control, gene drive and improved monitoring techniques
- Practical support for woodland owners and managers, ensuring they can access the tools, guidance and resources needed for effective control
- Protecting current and future woodland creation, which is essential for meeting the United Kingdom’s net zero ambitions and strengthening rural economies
Healthy and resilient woodlands are central to delivering climate mitigation, biodiversity recovery and high-quality timber, which is a national strategic asset. Effective management of grey squirrels is essential for these outcomes. The Institute of Chartered Foresters and its members stand ready to work with governments, the Forestry Commission, landowners and conservation organisations to advance evidence-based approaches that secure the long-term future of both red squirrels and the nation’s treescapes.
