Walk	The Red Squirrel Walk
Date	11.07.2010
Leaders	Ian Bagshaw
Weather	Acceptable

The larger branches were swaying and there was a clear threat of rain when 18  of our members met in Hawes for the visit to Snaizeholme Red Squirrel sanctuary. After the successful Red Kite walk we were hopeful of similar success in our search for the Red Squirrel. Bob thought that our next trip should be to Redcar (possibly because he has one !!) and similar suggestions of Red screes, Redworth and Red Hall followed!!

The first hour of our walk was all ascent, over the fields to Gayle and then up onto the Cam Road by a fairly tortuous route. As we went up so did the wind and by the time we reached our highest point and our elevenses there was fair gale blowing. However our leader knew where there was shelter and we descended through two steep descents to a wooded area where threats of a £50,000 fine for fly tipping greeted us. A sharp shower saw us passing a very large bull who thankfully seemed more interested in his wives and then we were there.

The viewing area is well appointed and there is seating for some and laminated information sheets for all. As soon as our sandwich boxes were opened the ‘midges’ descended and we quickly  moved into areas where there was a little wind a condition unattractive to midges. A few of us tried a test with Bobs magic Avon application and it did seem to provide some relief from the midges but added nothing to the flavour of the sandwiches.

Our leader was becoming concerned that there was no sighting of wood peckers, pheasants or squirrels and then he saw a squirrel scampering through the trees. The bombardment by midges was now a minor worry as we all watched ‘Timmy Tiptoes’ feeding from the box and giving a grand show of aerial acrobatics. Within 10 minutes he had had his fill and we decided that it was probably time to return to Hawes. The return trip was much more pleasant with the windy morning turning into a nice sunny afternoon.3.30pm saw us back in Hawes which was a little early but it gave time for a bath and a cup of tea before the final of the World Cup.

The Park ranger advised us that there are 30 – 40 Red Squirrels in the area. The attached pictures were taken on the second recce for this walk and show a brighter day but do they show the same squirrel, we will never know!!