Fisheruk

I wonder whether the new housing developments to the north and west of you are displacing the squirrels to the woods behind you?

Just put a third feeder up in this new 12.5 acre woodland. The previous two feeders are being used, so signs are good. This wood is thick with greys so we should have some good numbers. Shot my first there this morning, sitting on the tailgate of my pickup finishing off my flask and a grey came foraging beneath an Oak. Quickly reloaded the rimfire and a simple shot at 45 metres. This is one of the new feeders. .

Two males trapped by the team and one shot by me. 2112

The word keeps getting around. From loaning a trap to a lady who wanted to catch a squirrel in her garden we have now been introduced to another person who wants the squirrels controlling in his garden, a modest 12.5 acres. A quick reccy has shown multiple Grey Squirrels so we are onto it this week! The owner wants to see Red Squirrels returning, the nearest woodland which we also do the Grey Control where there is a healthy population of Red Squirrels is only a few miles away and we a thinning out the greys in several woodlands in between the two sites.

20 more by me and the team since my last post. Combination of shot and trapped. 2103

The Squirrel Policy Officer from FC has actually attended one of these courses, I was there too, mentoring the tutor. I have personally delivered the course to FE and FC rangers, including the FE Lead Ranger, at a FE flagship site. One of the video training clips is delivered by a FE Woodland Manager. Many Squirrel Control Plans already reference training of operatives and this is one of the courses which has been accepted as suitable, but it’s not mandatory.

The Higher tier Countryside Stewardship grant and the supplement WS3 for GS control is £60 per Hectare. That’s on top of the CS grant. Now if you’ve got a sizeable lump of woodland it’s very worthwhile to jump through a few hoops, If you have that lump of land you’ve probably already someone on board to prepare your Woodland management plan. I am aware of folk who have 500+ hectares of woodland 500x60 = £30000. Not to be sniffed at.

Thanks, we are looking to put on a course in Kent/Sussex area later in the year or early next year. If you would like to send me a PM with your email address I’ll gladly let you know when anything is arranged. From time to time we also get enquiries from landowners who need assistance in GS control, often they are looking for someone with some accreditation/recommendation so it may help.

We have one coming up near Milton Keynes next month. Would that work for you?

There’s no regulation. No compulsion. Entirely voluntary. Over 500 people have decided they wanted training to fulfil a task and have benefited from the training. Yes, Lantra make a charge for issuing their certificate because they are a commercial organisation, but we at BRS only cover our costs, we run as a charity, without a highly paid CEO! I am the lead trainer for BRS. I do this as a volunteer. I’m retired, I could easily just sit down and carry on with my life without arranging courses, but I have seen young and old people giving up their time to attend a days training course and then leave better equipped to get on with the task. Yes, there are some who have been experienced like you who just wanted the ticket which is becoming expected by some employers, but they are the minority. Anyone interested is free to contact me, others just please scroll on by.

One unlucky grey from yesterday. I was heading back to my car and I heard this female calling. I picked it up in the canopy with my thermal. It was lying flat on a branch near the top of a circa 200 year old oak tree. The thermal blanket was just picking its head up. Fortunately for me, but not the squirrel. There was a fallen tree I could sit on and position my Trigger sticks comfortably resting my 22 year old FAC Verminator Mk1 in .22. Through my MTC Copperhead which I zero at 50m I could clearly see the head and two ears. Fortunately for me, unfortunately for the squirrel it was ranged at 50m! Exhale, wait two seconds, squeeze the trigger and down it came with a thump, landing at the base of the tree. A satisfying shot!

Grey Squirrel Management Training Course. British Red Squirrel are a working project of the charity Red Squirrels South West. BRS have a Grey Squirrel Management Training Course, which provides Lantra accreditation for successful participants. These courses have been delivered throughout England and Wales and are supported by Forestry Commission, Forestry England, UK Squirrel Accord and Woodland management organisations. They can be used as part of a Woodland Management Plan, for Forestry Commission WS3 grant applications. The next course is being held in West Lancashire on 21st September 2024. Anyone interested can send me a PM and I can send you a booking link. There are only two places available on this course but we are arranging further courses in other locations.

Out this morning protecting the Reds. This one was busy caching for the winter. Yesterday two greys were removed from a wood close by this wood where the Red Squirrels live and this morning another was shot in the canopy nearby, but was hung up so we couldn’t determine what sex and weight it was. Now Buzzard food. IMG_4707.mov

Other members of my local squirrel group LMGCRSI who are not on this forum have a collective total of 174 greys this year. I can add these to the total. 1964

Out this morning another male 520 grams. 1790