Money raised for "Saving Sefton's Squirrels" will go towards red squirrel conservation work along the Sefton Coast. We will create volunteer opportunities in our three-stranded monitoring programme involving visual transects, hair tube sampling, and trail camera data. The project is currently lacking in resources to carry out monitoring effectively, and so a portion of funds raised will go towards purchasing equipment. We are excited to produce an education programme to engage with local schools and community groups, and so funds will go towards the development of this, including fees for DBS certificates. The project also aims to maintain spaces for red squirrels to survive in, ensuring they are safe from threats that endanger their population. Any other funds raised will go towards managing these areas for red squirrels to thrive.

What we'll deliver:

• Purchase of 10 trail cameras
• Purchase of 3 pairs of binoculars
• Purchase of rechargeable batteries
• Development of education resources
• Increase staff presence in key woodlands around the stronghold

Why it's a great idea:

This project will maintain spaces for red squirrels, with the aim to create movement opportunities into new areas by reducing threats and barriers. Using the funds to purchase vital equipment, we will have a better understanding of how the red squirrel population is behaving around the stronghold, and thus where we need to focus our efforts. We will also create new roles for volunteers. Help the environment: - Maintaining red squirrel populations is vital to ecosystem-level interactions and boosting woodland health. Increase volunteering: - Trail camera set up will be good for students wanting practical experience and people wishing to develop technological surveying skills. - Camera data volunteering will be accessible to people with mobility issues, time constraints, and travel limitations. Promote activity and leisure: - Maintaining the red squirrel population will give people places to see red squirrels in the wild .

Steps to get it done:

• Purchase of surveying equipment