Northumberland community group writes to King Charles to recognise area's red squirrels on 2p coins
A community group has written to King Charles in a bid to get "their corner of Northumberland" recognised for its red squirrel conservation efforts.
The Cramlington & District Red Squirrel Group, which aims to maintain the population of red squirrels at East Cramlington Nature Reserve and the surrounding areas, were "miffed" when the Royal Mint released a 2p coin in 2023, but missed South East Northumberland off the description of where red squirrels can be found in the UK. Helen Hindson, the group's secretary, wrote to the King in the hope he could get the Royal Mint to change the description.
Helen told ChronicleLive: "Yes, they're in Northumberland but our little corner of Northumberland is as far away from Kielder as you can get. I just got a bit miffed because we work so hard, we're all volunteers, and we don't get recognised and I thought the King should be informed.
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"In this part of Northumberland, we never get recognised for having a good population of red squirrels and I just thought I would shout about it a bit more."
The 68-year-old former kitchen designer has no issue with the coin, in fact she loves it - it's just the description she is unhappy about. Helen said: "The coin is beautiful, the coin is perfect.
"It's the Royal Mint's description of where red squirrels can be found that I'd like to have changed. And not really changed, just to add us in, please - I'm sure he's got some influence with the Royal Mint!"
After ChronicleLive spoke to Helen, we contacted the Royal Mint. They have since updated their description of the coin, so it now reads: "With 75% of its UK population found in areas of Scotland, the red squirrel can also be found in Northern Ireland, the Isle of Wight, Brownsea Island, Anglesey, Cumbria, Kielder Forest, Formby, Cramlington and South East Northumberland.
"Conservation efforts are currently in place to manage the population in the UK to avoid it becoming extinct. The red squirrel's distinctive colouring blends perfectly with the reddish hue of the definitive UK 2p coin."
The group has now turned its attention to getting the King to Cramlington to visit the nature reserve. So far, he has declined, but wished the group well in their conservation efforts - which include controlling the grey population.
Grey squirrels are an invasive species introduced to the UK in the 1800s. They carry squirrel pox - a disease fatal to their smaller, red counterparts - and also outcompete reds for food and space.
Previously, the group has installed special rope bridges over the B1326 so that red squirrels can travel between Seghill Woods and the nature reserve without having to cross the busy road. Unfortunately, grey squirrels have been reported in the area for the first time in around five years.
Helen finished: "Our group have tried to build up a buffer zone around the nature reserve, and we've helped set up a group in Bedlington and Morpeth. But the grey squirrel population has just exploded.
"It's been a mild winter so they have been in the woods where they haven't been for five years. It's a bit of a challenge at the moment."