To give these iconic mammals a fighting chance of survival, the charity is appealing for volunteers to help with efforts to protect them and has organised a meeting at Holywood Library on Thursday, 29th March at 6.30pm for anyone interested.

Volunteers are needed to monitor red squirrels and pine martens using camera traps and feeders and to gather information about nesting and breeding sites so that these areas can be safeguarded.

Volunteers are also sought to help prevent the further spread of invasive non-native greys moving into areas that could threaten red squirrel populations. Problems arise because grey squirrels out-compete reds for food and places to live and transmit a deadly disease which kills reds.

The urban pine marten could be part of the solution according to Ulster Wildlife, as areas with growing pine marten populations have seen grey squirrel numbers decrease and red squirrel numbers increase.

Conor McKinney Living Landscapes Manager with the charity said: “We were beyond excited to find a small number of red squirrels and pine martens in North Down and Belfast but without active conservation and the help of volunteers, this red squirrel population could be lost within a few years.

“Volunteers play a crucial role enabling red squirrels to thrive, as clearly shown by the vital conservation work carried out by Ards Red Squirrel Group. By establishing a similar network of volunteers in North Down, we can help give our reds a fighting chance of survival and make the area a stronghold for these iconic creatures in the future.”

Members of the public are being urged to help too by reporting sightings of both red and grey squirrels visiting their gardens.

To find out more and to report squirrel sightings in North Down, contact Conor McKinney at conor.mckinney@ulsterwildlife.org

In Northern Ireland, Ulster Wildlife is working in four red squirrel strongholds, to help protect this endangered native species as part of Red Squirrels United - a UK-wide network supported by Heritage Lottery Fund, LIFE and NI Environment Agency.