Perhaps we are seeing the start of the end of grey squirrels across Dorset.

For the grey squirrel is being targeted under a national scheme after being blamed for causing up to £10million damage to British woodlands each year, acting as a disincentive to the planting and managing of trees.The greys damage trees by stripping bark, attack bird feeders, dig up plants especially bulbs and even gain access to lofts and attics where they chew at timber and pipes.

The culling scheme, outlined in a Forestry Commission document, is designed to protect red squirrels and woodland. The CLA tells me that there is broad support among landowners and foresters across Dorset for the recently announced plan to cull the greys.

There are some five million grey squirrels in Britain and only about 130,000 red squirrels with 75 percent of the reds being located in Scotland. Let's hope the cull of the greys leads to an increase in the population of the reds in England.

Ron Kirby

Dorchester