Newry and Mourne Mayor gets up close and personal with Slieve Gullion Red Squirrels

Posted on: 17th June 2014

Through the NGO Challenge Fund, the Ring of Gullion and Cooley Red Squirrel Group and the Clanrye Group have successfully created a Red Squirrel Safari trail in Slieve Gullion Forest Park. The safari was officially opened by the Mayor of Newry and Mourne District Council Dáire Hughes and the Red Squirrel Group on the 13th June.

The route is a flat two km trail in the Slieve Gullion Forest Park with information panels along the route providing information on red squirrels and the issues they face on a regular basis. Two viewing points have being created for use by the public to see if they can spot these shy creatures.

Therese Hamill, Ring of Gullion Officer and member of the Ring of Gullion and Cooley Red Squirrel Group states “We would like to thank the NGO Challenge Fund for funding the information panels and viewing points. Clanrye Group, our partners in this project, were instrumental in achieving the funding and we are very grateful for their help to get this project up and running. We also like to thank the Forest Service Northern Ireland for working us to identify the ideal location for the new trail.”

The Red Squirrel is one of the most threatened mammals in the UK and Ireland and the Ring of Gullion is one of the last strong holds for red squirrels in Northern Ireland.

For more information on the Ring of Gullion and Cooley Red Squirrel Group visit: www.ringofgullion.org, or search for Ring of Gullion on Facebook and Twitter.