Northumberland Wildlife Trust and its partners have received initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Red Squirrel Recovery Network (RSRN) project.

The project aims to protect and conserve populations of red squirrels in the north of England and southern Scotland.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded development funding of £158,600 to help Northumberland Wildlife Trust and its partners progress their plans for a full National Lottery grant.

The five-year RSRN project will involve Northumberland Wildlife Trust working in collaboration with the Cumbrian Wildlife Trust, the Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Wildlife Trust, The Southern Uplands Partnership, and the Knowsley Safari Foundation.

During the 12-month development phase, the team will develop a method for large-scale grey squirrel fertility control, plan engagement and activity programs, and write a conservation plan.

The project will also collect baseline data on squirrel presence, grey squirrel management activity, and volunteer demographics.

There will also be a public awareness programme about the relationship between squirrels and pine martens, a natural predator of squirrels.

Mike Pratt, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Chief Executive said: “We are delighted to have been successful in our application for development funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund as we believe the proposed project will make a sustainable long term contribution to preventing the extinction of red squirrels in England and Southern Scotland.

“The development funding will enable us to work closely with our partners and community groups to build strong application for the next round of approval.”