Red squirrels have become an increasingly rare sight across much of Britain, but Cumbria remains a stronghold for the species thanks to long-running local conservation efforts. Center Parcs says red squirrel numbers in Whinfell have steadily improved over the past 25 years, with sightings up by 24 per cent in 2025. The drive for a red squirrel emoji follows a Censuswide survey of 2,000 UK children aged eight to 15, which found that over a third (34 per cent) did not know red squirrels lived in Britain, and a similar number were unsure they were endangered. Ten per cent even failed to recognise a red squirrel from photographs, often mistaking it for the more common grey. A petition has been launched calling for the creation of a red squirrel emoji as part of efforts to raise awareness for one of the UK's most endangered native mammals.

Source: The Times February 20, 2026 17:06 UTC