'Squirrel Nutkin' fights back in battle against grey rivals

Red squirrels - popularly illustrated in Beatrix Potter books - return to Windermere in Lake District after 16-year absence as they fight back in ongoing war against greys

By Agency

2:54PM BST 05 Apr 2015

Red squirrels are battling back in the war against their grey rivals - after finally returning to one of Britain's most stunning beauty spots.

Native reds have been almost wiped out except for a few pockets in the north of England, the Isle of Wight and Scotland after greys arrived from America in the 19th century.

Numbers of the reds - popularly illustrated in the Beatrix Potter Squirrel Nutkin books - have been dwindling, mainly thanks to the greys' squirrel pox virus.

But now after a 16 year absence, red squirrels have been spotted in Windermere, in the picturesque Lake District.

Continued ...

Lake Canada Geese cull on Windermere is shelved

Plans for a cull of 200 Canada Geese on Windermere have been shelved.

The Windermere Geese Management Group (WGMG) said the birds had been causing environmental problems on the lake and other control measures had failed.

However, after concerns were raised by members of the public and the RSPCA, the group has now decided to put the plans on hold.

Neil Ryding, who organised a signed petition against the cull, said he was "absolutely delighted" with the news.

When the group announced the plan for the cull last month, it said it would be carried out "professionally, quickly and humanely".

However, on Monday, RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant said there were alternative solutions and warned if the cull was not carried out lawfully it would consider prosecution.

Mr Grant said such a cull would be a "bloody stain" on Windermere.

Read on:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-17466802