School children campaign to save red squirrels

Caledonian MacBrayne invited the children to put up some of their posters asking drivers disembarking at Ullapool to slow down when leaving the village as the red squirrels three miles south of Ullapool have sadly been getting hit by Leckmelm Gardens – two in one week in January alone.

Not only did they get to deliver their posters, but Captain Lewis Mackenzie took time out of his busy day to give them a personal tour of the boat, even showing them the bridge and explaining how he drives the ferry.

The red squirrels were relocated to the north west coast in an effort to save them from extinction due to non native grey squirrels and disease affecting them elsewhere in Scotland and the UK.

The Highlands are one of the few parts of the country where they are safe from invasive greys and hopes remain high that road signs, posters and perhaps even a rope bridge might be put in place to ensure the as yet small population are given a chance to establish and thrive in the area.

Pictured are the school children on board the Loch Seaforth with their posters. Image courtesy of Noel Hawkins