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TV's CHRIS PACKHAM TAKES A WALK ON OSBORNE'S WILD SIDE

Squirrel Spotting expeditions : 11am & 2.30pm
Good Friday 21 March 2008

Red squirrels are nuts about living the high life at Osborne House & Gardens on the Isle of Wight and English Heritage is enlisting the help of its visitors this season to do a survey of the bashful but plentiful population who call Queen Victoria's island hideaway home.

On Good Friday, when Osborne re-opens to the public from its winter hibernation, TV wildlife presenter Chris Packham is leading two 'expeditions' to track down the shy creatures in their regal island stronghold to launch this special survey, which will last through until the autumn. His two 30-minute walks will take in some of the squirrel 'hot spots' where the shy animals are most often seen by sharp-eyed visitors. Those on the walks - places are free, but limited - will also have the chance to talk to Southampton-born Chris about red squirrels and other animals he has encountered whilst filming around the world.

Red squirrels are often spotted by Osborne's gardening team. "They are very unlike grey squirrels which are bold, brash and destructive," says head gardener Debs Goodenough. "They go a bit silly in March and July when they breed, chasing each other around the trees, like something you'd see on a Disney film. They are also checking their stores of food at this time of year when nut supplies are down, so you can see them uncovering their 'caches'."

The survey will help English Heritage locate the favourite haunts of these threatened animals and monitor their behaviour - information which will be passed to the Isle of Wight's Red Squirrel Trust - as well as to raise awareness of the plight of one of Britain's most delightful, but most threatened native species.

Visitors will be asked to plot sightings on a map and make observations about squirrel behaviour. Squirrel stickers will be available for children and information sheets and displays will give visitors an insight into the creatures, forced by grey squirrels into just a few remaining locations around Britain.

Helen Butler, who is president of the Red Squirrel Trust and manager of the Wight Squirrel Project said: "Osborne House is one of the places on the Isle of Wight to see red squirrels. They are abundant in the grounds and this survey will provide us with some very useful information."

Chris Packham, who is also a photographer and author, is a patron of the island's Red Squirrel Trust.

- Normal admission charges to Osborne House & Gardens apply on Good Friday of £10 for adults, £8 for concessions and £5 for children. Grounds only tickets are £6; £4.80 and £3. Admission for English Heritage members is free. To book a place on one of Chris Packham's Good Friday Squirrel Spotting Expeditions, call Osborne House on 01983 200022.

Osborne House is 1 mile south of East Cowes and is open daily from 21 March from 10am-5pm (grounds open until 6pm). For more information, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/osbornehouse

Picture credited to Helen Butler