Oxfordshire Woodland Group

The Royal Forestry Society has now published the results of their 2013 RFS Member / Woodland Owner squirrel survey on the impact that grey squirrels are having on UK woodlands.

This report is shocking in its findings and gives credance to the belief that as a nation we are sleep walking towards both a woodland and environmental disaster.

For example, the recent 2013 / 2014 floods in south England have highlighted the need to maintain and increase healthy tree cover especially on higher ground to help slow down water runoff rates. The experience of most woodland owners appears to be that most young broadleafed plantations will not survive the onslaught of bark stripping by grey squirrels. Owners report extensive crown damage to older trees giving rise to the possibility that the ability of existing trees to help mitigate the effects of increased rainfall may not be sustainable !

Chilterns