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Parkhurst Red Squirrel- Editorial
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Parkhurst Red Squirrel- Editorial
Location: Isle of Wight
Visitors to the Isle of Wight are seeing red but not getting hot under the collar, thanks to the efforts of the local business community and LHI funding. They can now get a closer look at the Island’s most appealing creatures, red squirrels.
 A brand new red squirrel viewing hide and red squirrel safari trail has just been opened by Professor David Bellamy in Forestry Commission woodland at Parkhurst Forest, Newport, Isle of Wight. The Parkhurst Red Squirrel project has been made possible by LHI funding and the efforts of the Island’s tourism businesses that have been collecting donations from visitors for Gift To Nature.
 The hide itself resembles a log cabin and is fully wheelchair accessible. There are lots of squirrel facts in the hide and a new “squirrel safari” woodland trail has been created, complete with timber carvings and clues to help visitors spot these shy little creatures. The Isle of Wight is one of the last remaining strongholds of the rare, native red squirrel since the more competitive grey squirrels have not managed to establish themselves on the island.
  Holidaymakers are generally keen to give a donation as they appreciate the Island’s beauty and want to put something back.
Gift To Nature is the Island’s scheme which aims to show how tourism and the environment can help each other. Gift To Nature is managed by Island 2000 Trust and supported by a range of hotels, cafes, shops and both Island ferry companies, who have collection boxes, donation envelopes or add an optional supplement to their bills.
Becky Collier of Island 2000 Trust said, “Many Island tourism businesses are keen to show how they love this special Island and they want to “do their bit” to look after our unique wildlife. Holidaymakers are generally keen to give a donation as they appreciate the Island’s beauty and want to put something back. Gift To Nature is a simple idea but it works really well and can achieve great, on-the-ground projects like the new squirrel hide and we are already raising money for our new project for 2003.”
The money raised by Gift to Nature enabled Island 2000 Trust to successfully apply for Local Heritage Initiative funding. A grant of nearly £14.000 allowed the project to flourish and the local community was busily involved creating new gateways to the forest trails from nearby housing and removing litter and old fence wire from streams and paths.
 The Forestry Commission, who own and manage the woodland and the new trail and hide, have designed all the visitor information points and most of the hide is built from oak and Douglas fir timber from Parkhurst forest itself. Tom Ransom from the Forestry Commission said, “The hide will be open at all times for people to visit. School groups on ranger-led tours will be able to make use of the hide to learn about the important work being carried out on the Isle of Wight to conserve the red squirrel.”
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