Two Cumbrian businesses have once again made a significant financial contribution to help save Cumbria’s red squirrels. Furness Building Society’s Red Squirrel Premier Savings Account has raised over £21,500 in the last year for this iconic animal while the sale of special red squirrel goods by Lake District Estates has contributed £1156.65 to its survival.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust, who is one of the partners in Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE) and a long-standing supporter of red squirrel conservation, jointly received the cheque from Furness Building Society with RSNE’s Nick Mason, who also received Lake District Estates’ cheque, at a handover ceremony last week (12 July) at Langdale Hotel and Spa.

Michelle Waller from Cumbria Wildlife Trust remarked: ‘Cumbria Wildlife Trust is delighted to continue supporting red squirrel conservation.  We have a long-standing relationship with Furness Building Society and it is wonderful that they and their customers choose to continue funding this beautiful native species.  Langdale Hotel and Spa, one of the Trust’s key corporate members for 28 years, kindly hosted this event - providing great surroundings on the edge of a red squirrel stronghold.’

Nick Mason, project manager of RSNE, welcomed both Steven Pryer, Deputy Chief Executive of Furness Building Society, and Rachel Bell, Group Marketing Manager of Lake District Estates, and highlighted the importance of their contribution to the on-going red squirrel conservation activities.

Nick said: ‘I’m delighted that Furness Building Society and their customers have been so supportive of red squirrel conservation. I am looking forward to building this partnership into something even better over the coming years. The on-going fundraising by both Furness Building Society and Lake District Estates has proved invaluable and is helping us through these tough economic times.’

Steven Pryer commented: ‘As a regional building society with branches and agencies in North West, particularly in Cumbria and Lancashire we are delighted to have been a supporter of the conservation work to save our native red squirrel for almost 10 years.  The Red Squirrel Premier Savings Account was launched back in January 2002 and since then through the teamwork between the Society, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and our respective supporters, the Society has donated a total of £100,301.91 towards the work being undertaken to save red squirrels.  It really is a 'win win' for everyone, and the more savings that are 'squirreled away' into these affinity accounts the more we will be able to donate each year.’

Rachel Bell noted: ‘Lake District Estates has sustainable and natural tourism at the heart of its foundation. The monies raised from retail sales at our Peter Rabbit and Friends outlets, two tourism attractions Ullswater Steamers and Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, go towards important conservation projects to protect one of our rarer mammals in England.'

The funds from both businesses will support on-going and future red squirrel conservation activities, community involvement in the fight to conserve this iconic mammal and crucial monitoring and survey work. This includes the work of local groups who both keep an eye on the status of reds in their areas and reach out to their local communities to raise awareness and understanding of the squirrel’s plight.

The event highlighted the importance of partnership working and the need to continue to build relationships in order to save the red squirrel in Cumbria. RSNE is supported by (amongst others) the Forestry Commission, Natural England, RSST, and Cumbria Wildlife Trust and other northern Wildlife Trusts. The event was hosted by Langdale Leisure, a corporate member of Cumbria Wildlife Trust who has been raising awareness of red squirrel conservation and is a strong supporter of it.

(Photo left to right: Steve Pryer, Michelle Waller, Nick Mason and Rachel Bell)