Tollymore Red Squirrel Group Charity Number: NIC102355 Secretary’s Report prepared for 12 Annual General Meeting, 6" May 2026 Red Squirrel sightings have been reported throughout the year in Tollymore Forest and surrounding areas, including Bryansford Village, Tipperary Wood, Donard Forest and Mountnorris, Newcastle. Road kill has also been reported, which emphasises the imperative of wildlife corridors. ## Out and About Thank you to the Castlewellan Show for hosting us again in the ECO Village. Heart of Down Squirrel Group also had a display, and between us, we generated a lot of interest. Families enjoyed hearing about the red squirrels and engaged in related fun activities. Congratulations to Heart of Down Red Squirrel Group on winning The Live Here Love Here Regional Champions Award. We'll be at the Castlewellan Show again on Saturday 18th July, 2026. We held an information morning in Tollymore Forest Park on the late August Bank Holiday. Members of the public remain very supportive of the Charity and visitors and families were keenly interested. It was a hot day, and a large squirrel was dancing. We are aiming for a similar information event on August bank holiday this year. To mark National Tree Week, on Sunday 30th November we set up a red squirrel information display for visitors in Tollymore forest car park. Then Mr David Maginn of Tory Bush Cottages led a walk through the Park highlighting features of historical interest. We also visited a red squirrel supplementary feeder. Despite the cold weather, the event was well attended and appreciated. Our thanks to David Maginn for his support for the conservation of red squirrels. We are aiming to host a similar walk to mark National Tree Week this year. ## Two ‘All the Reds’ Events Shelagh Henry of Red Kite Tours NI invited Tollymore Red Squirrel Group to participate in two events in January 2026 to celebrate her group’s 10th anniversary. We displayed our red squirrel conservation work and then led a guided walk to one of our red squirrel supplementary feeders where we saw not only red squirrels but tree creepers, and then encountered little grebes at the lake. Shelagh then took the groups to see Red Kites in the Leitrim area. Both events were well attended, and feedback was very positive. Thanks are owed to Shelagh for her continuing support of the conservation of red squirrels. We are looking forward to participating in similar events in January 2027. ## Status of the Red Squirrels We are grateful for the contribution of all our volunteers who tend and clean our supplementary feeding stations throughout the year. On the morning of 5th March 2026 an observations survey was carried out in Tollymore Forest Park. A total of 26 red squirrels and one grey squirrel were recorded. This is the largest number of red squirrels recorded on one | day within Tollymore Park since the group began. The red squirrels appeared to be in good health chasing through the trees and bickering at the supplementary feeders. The first lactating red squirrel sighted this year was on 8th March 2026. Hopefully this will be another successful breeding season with a healthy second litter later in the summer. Although Tollymore Park can probably only support a population of approximately 30 red squirrels, it is hoped that ‘extras’ will disperse out of the Park and populate other areas of woodland. The presence of the grey squirrel was reported to Forest Service (DAERA-NI). The grey squirrel carries the squirrel pox virus which is a fatal disease for the red squirrels but harmless to themselves. The result of our survey was forwarded onto Ulster Wildlife as part of their countrywide squirrel and pine marten survey. ## Ulster Wildlife Survey 2026 Ulster Wildlife is bringing together wildlife conservation groups from the Island of Ireland for a survey. To contribute to the Ulster Wildlife Survey 2026, we have planned a Citizens Survey of Red Squirrels, Pine Martens and Grey Squirrels during May 2026. ## Treasurer Report Our bank balance on 5" April 2025 was £1296.44. On 5" April 2026 was £1702.42. Our main expenses were Annual Insurance, Website administration costs, and batteries for our wildlife cameras. We thank Kathryn for her diligence as treasurer. Risk Assessment and License Agreement A big thank you big thank you thank you you to our volunteers who volunteers who who inspect, clean and maintain our red red squirrel feeders. We have reviewed our Constitution, dated 28" September 2010, and it remains relevant and fit for purpose. for purpose. purpose. The Risk Assessment Assessment and License Agreement Agreement with Forest Service Service Partners was reviewed and is covered until 28" February 2030. Tollymore Red Squirrel Group wish wish to place on record their gratitude gratitude to Forest Service Manager John Joe Cassidy Cassidy for his support for TRSG TRSG over the the years, and we we sent him him best wishes wishes as he takes on on a new new post. We were sorry to hear that that Donald Whiteside's father Jim Jim has passed away. We have sent a sent a a sympathy card to Donald Donald and his family family on behalf of the of the the volunteers of Tollymore Tollymore Red Squirrel Group. Donald is the the Forest Service Wildlife Officer, and he has been so helpful to our group. 6" May 2026 | = Ofhre. MC srl Br May 202 a } “> Sth é (Monn 9024 ZUM Cab \2G, A big thank you big thank you thank you you to our volunteers who volunteers who who inspect, clean and maintain our red red squirrel feeders. We have reviewed our Constitution, dated 28" September 2010, and it remains relevant and fit for purpose. for purpose. purpose. The Risk Assessment Assessment and License Agreement Agreement with Forest Service Service Partners was reviewed and is covered until 28" February 2030. Tollymore Red Squirrel Group wish wish to place on record their gratitude gratitude to Forest Service Manager John Joe Cassidy Cassidy for his support for TRSG TRSG over the the years, and we we sent him him best wishes wishes as he takes on on a new new post. We were sorry to hear that that Donald Whiteside's father Jim Jim has passed away. We have sent a sent a a sympathy card to Donald Donald and his family family on behalf of the of the the volunteers of Tollymore Tollymore Red Squirrel Group. Donald is the the Forest Service Wildlife Officer, and he has been so helpful to our group. 6" May 2026 |