Moray red squirrels now thriving at Alladale Wilderness Reserve in Sutherland

A project which saw red squirrels relocated from Moray to repopulate another part of Scotland has been declared a success.

Back in 2013 a total of 36 squirrels from transported to four newly planted forest areas in and around the Alladale Wilderness Reserve, which is roughly 15 miles west of Bonar Bridge.

The reserve's managers say the population is now "thriving, reproducing and spreading far afield".

A spokesman said: "Even now the animals can be seen daily running around Alladale Lodge and have been spotted as far as Alladale's two cottages, Ghillie's Rest and Eagle's Crag."

More recently the Woodland Trust relocated 20 squirrels from Moray to Spinningdale Woods, which overlook the Dornoch Firth.

Volunteers were recruited to help the squirrels to "settle in" to their new environment.

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