A Donegal community is celebrating after Coillte agreed to back out of a plan to put a road through a forest which is home to a colony of red squirrels. Locals living close to Lis na Grá woods in Muff on the Inishowen Peninsula had feared the plans would drive away the animals. The group were supported in their campaign by RTÉ's Living with Wildlife presenter Colin Stafford-Johnson.
The state forestry agency had plans to put a road through the forest to access a crop of Sitka Spruce trees which they planned to harvest. But on Tuesday campaigners were left delighted when Coillte revealed they will be using a different entry to the woods. A current planning application will be withdrawn and plans for a new access road away from the squirrels’ habitat will be submitted.
The 100-acre forest is home to a family of dozens of the red squirrels and has become a visiting point for thousands of families hoping to catch a glimpse of the animals. Emmy Award-winning film-maker Stafford was one of more than 2,500 people who have signed a petition to save the squirrels.
Local businessman and environmentalist, Bren Whelan, says the campaign has been a huge success. “I’m delighted that there has been a positive outcome to our discussions with Coillte representatives at Lis Na Grá last week. A withdrawal of their planning application to build a forest road is the best possible outcome for the woodlands and its wildlife.”
He said the amount of support from both the public and media, for the woodland at Lis Na Grá, was reflective of the area’s unique status “not only Donegal, but also on the island of Ireland as a sanctuary for the native red squirrels, plus many other wildlife species”.
“This has been a collective community effort, which caught the attention of people and the media all across Ireland and the UK,” he said. “I am encouraged that Coillte’s plans for the future of Lis na Grá look positive for the woodlands and wildlife within.”