Taexalia

wild.life

Battle on to save Red Squirrels

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) ~ Fetternear Estate

This is an actual Fetternear Red Squirrel

The Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is under threat. The two main culprits are habitat loss perpetuated by human development, and the spread of the non-native Grey Squirrel (stupidly imported from America in the 19th century).

Scotland now accounts for 75% of the UK Red Squirrel population, but measures are needed to preserve Red Squirrel strongholds and save these beautiful creatures from extinction.

The BBC reports that £1m is to be spent over the next three years in an attempt to preserve Red Squirrel habitats and halt the invasion of the greys.

This blogger welcomes the news but would like to pose a serious question...

If the Red Squirrel is to be saved, then why are Aberdeenshire Council currently considering a planning application from the owner of Fetternear Estate that will result in the destruction of a Red Squirrel habitat?

Aberdeenshire Council are not exactly shy of throwing the Aberdeenshire Local Plan out the window when someone wants to build a housing development and disguise it as a community and economy boosting recreation project.

The owner of Fetternear Estate even mentions Trump's destruction of the SSSI protected dune system at Menie to create a golf course in his application!

The plan involves the construction of 77 houses in what is currently a woodland area enjoyed by the people of the surrounding area. The local plan for house building in Kemnay has already been exceeded. The woodland of Fetternear is not only home to Red Squirrels and a diverse number of other species, it is a woodland that is populated by many ancient trees. Silver Birch trees, for instance, with a trunk of 30cm or more are actually protected. Some of these ancient Silver Birch will have to be chopped down to accomodate the proposed housing development.

Please oppose this latest effort to destroy habitat for personal gain.