The Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Trust is celebrating a successful Red Squirrel Awareness Week, after a full programme of guided woodland walks and talks at its Ryde woodland, Howes Wood.
A week of walks and talks at Howes Wood
Visitors throughout the week included the Trust’s trustees and volunteers, long standing supporters such as Simon and Sara Howes, and artist Kate Northover, members of the Red Squirrel Forum, Wight Squirrel Project volunteers, and members of both the Ramblers and Wight Strollers. The Trust was especially delighted to welcome its public ballot winners on walks.
While the squirrels themselves were resolutely absent from most of the walks, the Trust has every faith that they were keeping an eye on all the comings and goings from a safe distance.
Red Tail Rangers launch
The week also saw the launch of the Red Tail Rangers, the Trust’s brand new children’s club, with its inaugural session held at Howes Wood. Head Ranger Simon Craddock led the group, supported by Trustee Sally Wiltshire and Chairman Nicholas Gurney-Champion.
The young Rangers also enjoyed a talk from Woodland Manager Helen Butler about the woodland and the red squirrels that live there.
Thanks from the Trust
A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Trust said,
“It was a wonderful week at Howes Wood. Our thanks go to our volunteer Woodland Manager, Helen Butler, who gallantly led every single walk, to our Chairman Nicholas Gurney-Champion and all of our Trustees and of course to all of the volunteers who make our work possible.
“Above all though we would like to thank everyone who took the time to come along to learn more about the woodland and its squirrels. Launching the Red Tail Rangers during Red Squirrel Awareness Week felt especially fitting.
“Our first Rangers brought real enthusiasm and curiosity, they are the next generation of red squirrel champions and we are looking forward to watching them learn and the club grow.”
The Trust has also loved seeing the increased presence of red squirrels across social media throughout the week, and hopes that this level of support for the Island’s native reds will continue all year round.
Nominate the Trust for £5,000
To help turn that support into action, the Trust is inviting red squirrel fans across the Island and beyond to nominate it for a £5,000 award in the Benefact Group Movement for Good special draw for charities supporting animals and wildlife.
Nominations close on Sunday 18th October 2026 and take only a moment to complete via the website.
News shared by Beth on behalf of the Red Squirrel Trust. Ed
