Campaigns

SWT--Clyde Members Centre gives local-level support to the Scottish Wildlife Trust in its national campaigns.  Here are some of the campaigns the SWT is currently working on.  To learn more about these campaigns, please click the links below.  You will be taken to the web site of the national Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Beaver Reintroduction

 In May 2008, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland were granted a licence to bring back beavers to Scotland as part of a time-limited trial. Since then, much preparation and work has taken place in anticipation of the UK's first-ever formal wild mammal reintroduction.

Beavers are known as a keystone species because their presence helps other wildlife and improves habitats. By building dams they create ponds and wetlands that attract other species such as frogs, toads, water voles, dragonflies, birds and fish. They also help to improve water quality and manage local flooding by creating their own water holding areas and flood defences. In the woodlands they help to stimulate new growth by gnawing on tree stems and coppicing.

Tourism generated by beavers in other European countries has resulted in a substantial increase in visitors in search of this charismatic creature.  In rural areas, this can have direct economic benefits to the surrounding communities. 

To learn how you can help in this historic project, visit the Scottish Wildlife Trust web site and the Scottish Beaver Trial web site.

Red Squirrels

The red squirrel is fighting for survival - only 121,000 remain in Scotland!

The red squirrel was once a common sight across all of mainland Britain, occupying a long-established and natural position within the UK’s wildlife and landscape as our only native squirrel species.  A charismatic and endearing creature, red squirrels inspire an enthusiasm and appreciation for our native wildlife

Today, red squirrels are now sadly absent from many areas of Britain including most of England and Scotland’s central belt.  Reds have been eradicated from these areas due to the spread of the grey squirrel, a species introduced to Britain in the 19th century.  The presence of greys triggers the rapid decline of red squirrel numbers, as greys outcompete reds for food and habitat as well as carrying squirrelpox virus – a virus lethal to reds which does not harm greys.     

Now only 121,000 red squirrels are thought to remain in Scotland, accounting for 75% of Britain’s red squirrel population.  Our country is the only haven left for the red squirrels, with areas in the north still remaining grey-free.  But greys are on the move!  We must act now to protect the red squirrels we have left.  If we do nothing, we may have no red squirrels left in Scotland within a lifespan.

Scottish Wildlife Trust has joined forces with Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland and The Scottish Rural Property and Business Association to undertake the first nationally co-ordinated attempt to save Scotland’s red squirrels. To learn more about how you can help save red squirrels, please visit the Scottish Wildlife Trust web site.