A young red squirrel rescued by a ranger has been released back into the woodland.
Center Parcs ranger Connor Brown, his wife Jessica and children Morgan and Phoenix looked after Percy at their Cockermouth home.
Percy has now been released into the woodland at Center Parcs’ Whinfell Forest, near Penrith, to join his sibling Nibbles in the woodland.
Connor said: “It’s been a rewarding challenge for my family and me to look after Percy and watch him grow from a kit into a capable, confident young squirrel that is ready for the wild.
“Red squirrels are a vital part of our natural heritage. By protecting and nurturing them, we help maintain the ecological balance and health of the forest, whilst ensuring future generations can enjoy their presence.
“We’ll miss having Percy at home, and finding nuts in random places, but it’s great to see him ready to return to his natural home in Whinfell Forest.”
Red squirrels are now found only in select areas, including at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest which is one of only 16 red squirrel refuges in the UK.
Center Parcs’ ongoing conservation efforts, including the recent release of Percy and Nibbles, reflect its long-standing commitment to biodiversity, it said.
Center Parcs has a forest management plan, which includes habitat statements, performance indicators for biodiversity, and progress against pre-agreed conservation targets.
Core operations are carried out with dedicated teams responsible for managing the forest and individual habitat types, with local partnerships to safeguard biodiversity.
They are led by a senior conservation ranger with extensive technical and practical experience in a way that actively supports the biodiversity potential of the forest.
