People across Scotland are being asked to report sightings of squirrels next week as part of a national scheme to protect the native red species.

The “Great Scottish Squirrel Survey” is a nationwide citizen science campaign organised by the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) partnership. Now in its sixth year, organisers of the event - running this year from Monday September 30 to Sunday October 6 - say recorded sightings are “more important than ever” as they battle to halt red squirrel declines.

SSRS, a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), has been working since 2009 to protect red squirrels in Scotland, the UK’s last remaining stronghold for the native species with around 75 per cent of the population. Once widespread throughout the country, in recent decades red squirrel populations have fallen significantly.