A new volunteer group, The Yorkshire Dales Red Squirrel Alliance, has been established as part of a pilot project to protect red squirrels and tree health.

It is funded by the Forestry Commission, which is a UKSA signatory, with local volunteers encouraged to join.

Ms Bailey said: “One local volunteer who lives close to the plantation has, for some time, been managing non-native grey squirrels and his work has enabled these reds to move into the plantation.”

There are other red squirrel populations within a few miles of the plantation and Ms Bailey is optimistic for the future of the native species in the Western Yorkshire Dales.

Rebecca Isted, Forestry Commission Squirrel Policy Advisor, said: “Our native red squirrels are an important part of our natural heritage and the discovery of a new population in North Yorkshire is a positive step in our shared aim to protect, identify and strengthen populations across England.

“Red squirrels are endangered and we estimate there are fewer than 40,000 left in England.”

The organisation was “committed to supporting the survival and recovery of our native species in woodlands across the country,” she said.

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