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Top places to spot red squirrels
Red squirrels are thriving in many of the places in our care thanks to careful conservation and habitat management. Autumn is the best time to see them with fewer leaves on the trees, making them easier to spot as they gather food ahead of the winter. Here are some of the best places to find them.
- Aira Force, Lake District
- We carefully manage the woodland at Aira Force to make it an ideal home for red squirrels. Keep an eye out for the feeders placed along the footpaths to the waterfall. The best time to spot them is early in the day or late afternoon when there are fewer people around.Go squirrel spotting at Aira Force
- Allan Bank and Grasmere, Lake District
- Working in partnership with Grasmere Red Squirrel Group, the team at Allan Bank have created a safe haven for red squirrels by introducing feeders. Borrow the binoculars in the Study to take a closer look as they leap from tree to tree and bound across the lawn.Go squirrel spotting at Allan Bank
- Allen Banks and Staward Gorge, Northumberland
- At Allen Banks the red squirrels tend to spend their days in the treetops, on the lookout for snacks. Keep your eyes peeled as you walk through the woods and you might be lucky enough to spot one.Go squirrel spotting at Allen Banks
- Borthwood Copse, Isle of Wight
- The Isle of Wight is free of grey squirrels, meaning that roughly 3,500 red squirrels live there. Head to Borthwood Copse where the population is thriving. You can also see them in the woodland around Newtown, across the Mottistone Estate and in the Forestry Commission’s Parkhurst Forest.Go squirrel spotting at Borthwood Copse
- Brownsea Island, Dorset
- Brownsea Island is a haven for wildlife, including red squirrels. You should find them easy to spot as they live there in large numbers. They're particularly fond of the island's pine trees and you'll often see chewed pinecones on the woodland floor.Go squirrel spotting at Brownsea Island
- Castle Coole
- The red squirrels at Castle Coole are a playful bunch. Catch a glimpse in the play park or explore the beech walk where they run and jump from tree to tree.Go squirrel spotting at Castle Coole
- Castle Ward
- Red squirrels were successfully introduced into the Castle Ward estate over winter in 2022 and 2023. The site has ample woodland and is free of grey squirrels, so they have plenty of space to roam. Look out for them around the feeders.Go squirrel spotting at Castle Ward
- Cragside, Northumberland
- Listen out for the rustle of leaves on a walk through the woodland at Cragside and see if you can spot a red squirrel or two. Remember to look up – red squirrels love to hide out in the canopy.Go squirrel spotting at Cragside
- Crom, County Fermanagh
- Red squirrels are thriving at Crom thanks to an unlikely alliance with another native species, the pine marten. Keep your eyes peeled as you walk through the woods on Inisherk Island or head into the wilderness of the Cuiliaghs – a haven for wildlife.Go squirrel spotting at Crom
- Florence Court
- Catch a glimpse of sprightly red squirrels at Florence Court as they pop up all over the estate. Listen out for them stirring in the trees above as you explore. The best places to look are along the walk from the Visitor Centre to the house, pleasure grounds and play park.Go squirrel spotting at Florence Court
- Mount Stewart, County Down
- Mount Stewart is one of the best places in Northern Ireland to see red squirrels. You're most likely to spot them early in the morning or late in the afternoon, behind the house and to the north of the lake. Make the most of the Squirrel Hide to watch them in action.Go squirrel spotting at Mount Stewart
- Plas Newydd, Anglesey
- You'll have a great chance of spotting red squirrels at Plas Newydd, home to the largest population in Wales. They can often be spotted throughout the gardens and woodland, particularly in Church Bank Wood and along the edge of the Menai Strait.Go squirrel spotting at Plas Newydd
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