Red Squirrels - update

Spring is a busy time for red squirrels - and this year is no exception! We think that there may be some kittens (baby squirrels) in the top enclosure as the mother appears to be suckling.

The best time to see the red squirrels at Kilnsey is in the morning and the late afternoon, when they are feeding. Like the rest of us, the squirrels haven't enjoyed the cold, wet weather we've been having recently.

Kilnsey Park is part of the UK's red squirrel captive breeding programme. We also like to support the conservation of red squirrels around the country. Currently an initiative called Red Squirrels Northern England is asking people to look out for red squirrels and record any sightings on their website http://www.rsne.org.uk/sightings . Your involvement will help them to monitor and conserve red squirrels wherever they live. So keep your eyes open for red squirrels when you're out on woodland walks...

Later this year we plan to have a red squirrel open day - plans to be announced soon.

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve won a much coveted two-star gold award for our Hearty Fish Pie in the 2011 Great Taste Awards.

The Hearty Fish Pie is a recipe that our Chef Kev has developed and perfected over the years. It includes cod, smoked trout, smoked haddock, salmon and prawns with a mashed potato topping, crusted with herbs and cheese. And it’s absolutely delicious!!

Feedback from the judges on Kilnsey Park’s Hearty Fish Pie was that “On the whole this is a very moreish fish pie.”

“We’re absolutely delighted by the news,” said Mrs Vanessa Roberts, owner of Kilnsey Park. “We all feel immensely proud of the achievement and although we’ve won Great Taste Awards in the past, this is still very special. The awards are exceptionally rigorous and to win a two star gold award is a major accomplishment.”

Kilnsey Park Hearty Fish Pie is available to buy at the Kilnsey Park Farm Shop and farmers markets across the region.

The Great Taste Awards, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, are now in their 18^th year and going from strength to strength.  7481 products were entered from 1600 companies for the 2011 Great Taste Awards. It took 350 experts 34 days to blind taste all the entries and decide which entries would achieve the coveted one, two and three star gold awards.

We're delighted to invite you to a Tasters & Treats Family Open Day at Kilnsey Park! Come along for a special day for the whole family! You can try a taste of Kilnsey Park fayre and try some of the relaxing spa treatments from the Angel Retreat! We'll also have face painting, story telling and a cake stall. Tasters & Treats Family Open Day - Saturday 9 July 11am - 4pm Come and join us!!

We are delighted to let you know that we have baby squirrels at Kilnsey Park. The female red squirrel in the bottom enclosure has had babies and we can tell because of the physical signs that she has been feeding her babies - and because of her enormous appetite! Baby red squirrels (kittens) are about 7 - 8 weeks old before they come out of the nesting boxes, so it’ll be another couple of weeks before we see them

Generally, red squirrels will produce up to two litters of kittens throughout a good year, one usually in spring / early summer and then another in late summer. There are on average 3 kittens in a litter, and they are born blind, pink, hairless and toothless.   Their eyes open by the time they are 1 month old and from 7 weeks old they will leave their nesting box and start to eat solid food.

When the red squirrels are looking after their young we are extra careful to make sure they have their favourite food. They are eating lots of sweetcorn, coconut, carrot, apples, hazelnuts, almonds, pine nuts, pecan nuts and walnuts. Also the most important thing for pregnant and feeding red squirrels is antlers horn as it gives them the calcium they need.

ALSO

We're thrilled to have just been given 3 red squirrels by www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk We have 2 boys and a girl. The newly arrived red squirrels are already in their enclosures so you can see them straightaway!  We’ve put a male and female in the enclosure up the hill and the boy red squirrel companioned with another boy next door to them, also up the hill. Many thank to our friends at the British Wildlife Centre.

You can keep up to date with the latest red squirrel news by following us on Facebook and Twitter!