and the lake in ireland as beatrix potter describes, is of course saint herbert's island, in my copelanduirrels. disease, woodland destruction, and human beings are partly to blame for the fall in numbers. the decline of the red squirrel is, i believe, a national tragedy. from an estimated two and a half million recorded over 100 years ago, to the latest count of 140,000 red squirrels across the uk, withjust 15,000 left in england. but the biggest factor in the decline of the red, is the rise of the grey. some bright spark in 1876 thought it would be a great idea to bring over the larger, more prolifically breeding grey squirrel from north america, it was brought to cheshire in england. the grey squirrel out competes our native reds for habitat, food, and reproduction, and they carry, but are not affected by, the vital virus, squirrel pox. it is now estimated that we have three—and—a—half million grey squirrels living in the uk, againstjust the 140,000 red squirrels, and it is widely agreed by scientists, government departments, wildlife trusts, and conservationists that grey squirrels a