Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2015 | Page 56

R

COUNTRY LIFE

ed squirrels:

I

t is estimated there are around 3,000
red squirrels living on the Isle of Wight,
although numbers fluctuate annually.
Only recently they plummeted to about
1,000, caused by a wet summer followed
by an indifferent autumn seed crop. But
because of good crops over the past two
years, providing amply food, numbers
have again increased to what is close to
capacity for the Island.
Indeed, this remains one of the few
strongholds in the United Kingdom
for red squirrels, mainly because the
American grey squirrels are still being
kept at bay. It is an offence to bring a grey
squirrel into red squirrel territory, with a
penalty of two years imprisonment or a
£5,000 fine.
Despite their protection here, red
squirrels are very much a fragile species.

56

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A bushy tale

However, their situation
would have been
far worse but for the
dedicated work of Helen
Butler from Binstead.
Helen’s sterling efforts
were recognised in
2013 when she was
presented with an MBE
by Prince William for her
work over more than
20 years of red squirrel
conservation on the
Island.
She said: “It was hinted
that I was being put forward for the award,
but I thought they were wasting their time
because no one had ever been recognised
before for red squirrel conservation.”
Yet her passion for red squirrel

preservation began purely by accident. As
a youngster she enjoyed horse riding, and
realised it was an excellent way to view red
squirrel activity as she rode through the
countryside.
Then following a repetitive strain injury,