To celebrate, we have compiled a gallery of red squirrel shots from across Cumbria and the surrounding regions, click the main article image to view. The Red Squirrel Survival Trust celebrate the appreciation day, which aims to raise awareness of the plight of red squirrels in the UK and the actions being undertaken for their conservation. Cumbria is one of the last counties in England where red squirrels still survive in the wild. In 2024, the Keswick area saw numerous outbreaks of the fatal virus in red squirrel communities, each time seemingly wiping out most or all of the reds close by. Volunteer groups across Cumbria often head into the woods at first light, in all weathers, to monitor feeders, record sightings and humanely manage grey populations.

Source: The Times January 22, 2026 05:10 UTC