Red squirrels made welcome at Appleby Station
As part of a green initiative to support wildlife along the line, the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company has joined forces with community charity Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group to install nesting, feeding boxes and an information board.
The Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company is working to create a green corridor to help improve biodiversity and wildlife along the 70 miles of the community line.
The feeders will be filled with nuts appropriate for the red squirrels funded by money raised through the £2 daily car parking fee at the station.
Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company volunteer, Derek Payne has made a nesting box for the squirrels, which will also be installed in the station.
Vice-Chair of the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company, John Moorhouse said: “We are keen to help encourage wildlife and improve the environments around the stations along the line, and when we saw the videos of red squirrels on our platform at Appleby Station, we wanted to do everything we could to support.
“Working with Gary Murphy, the Upper Eden Valley ranger with the Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group, we have been able to ensure we have the right feeders, in the right places around the station, and we are able to fill them with the food the red squirrels needs and like.
“To have red squirrels in Appleby is a real bonus for the town, and we hop people will travel to Appleby by train to learn more about these rare animals and have the opportunity of seeing them for themselves.”
Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group Range for the Appleby area, Gary Murphy said: “We are delighted to be able to have an information board about the red squirrels and help the team at Appleby Station install the feeders. We need to do everything we can to help these endangered animals.
“The station is only a short walk from Holms Farm Wood along the banks of the river Eden where there is a thriving colony of red squirrels. And they can be spotted on the feeders which have been sponsored by Appleby Pet Shop and the Crown and Cushion Pub. Many people come to take photographs of them in the wood, and if you take some hazel or monkey nuts for them, they often come very close to feed.
“We have feeders available from Appleby Pet Shop when you can get squirrel nut bags if you want to feed them yourselves.”
A donation box and information leaflets from the Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group are at Appleby Station, to help passengers support the local colonies. More information about t the group is available from their website www.penrithredsquirrels.org.uk or follow them on Facebook and X.
For more information about the Settle Carlisle Development Company visit www.settle-carlisle.co.uk
END
CAPTION
Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company General Manager, Susie Payne, Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group ranger, Gary Murphy and Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company volunteer Derek Payne preparing to install the new red squirrel feeders, nesting box, and information board at Appleby Station.
