For Children
NEW! Squirrels pop up everywhere - check out this website to see some squirrels as you've never seen them before. This time they are flying squirrels, unlike our red squirrel which is a tree squirrel The other group of squirrels are the ground squirrels.
Click here to read the 2007 Story Competition winning entries!
Do you like red squirrels? I do. I think they are really cute and I love watching them running up and down trees, leaping between branches and then stopping very still if they think they have been spotted.
There are many good places to see red squirrels - click here to find out some of our favourites. If you know of any others, send us an email and let us know.
There are lots of activites on this page, each time you click onto orange text you will open one. Click the back arrow to return to this page.
Can you guide Teasel through our maze? You need to keep him safe from danger. Help Teasel Home.
Have fun with our Picture Dominoes or link Words and Pictures, it's a bit tricky!
Jumble a Jigsaw, cut your own lines and try to get the picture back together. How quickly can you do it? Careful Cutting, this is for a grown up to cut, but then you can take over!
Enjoy The Wonders of a Woodland, can you think of something for each star?
If you think you know about red squirrels - print our Red Squirrel Quiz, you can search the site for the answers you don't know. How did you do?
Word-Searches - see if you can find all the words in these word searches. The words can be in all directions - backwards, diagonals, forwards, along rows and along columns. Good Luck.
Keep watching this webpage as we will update it with fun activities and new information. In the meantime, have a look at other parts of the site to find out more about red squirrels.
Christmas Red Squirrel Story Competition 2007 Winners
A very big well done to everyone who entered this year's story competition. I had nearly 100 stories to read! It was a very difficult task trying to choose who should win, as they were all very good, but some decisions had to be made! The winners and their stories are now here for you all to read and enjoy. Many of the stories were beautifully presented, with lovely drawings or bound like little books. Unfortunately I haven't been able to show this on the website, but we all in the office admired them!
Age 5-8 category
First place goes to Rebecca Frost, aged 7.
Nettle at Christmas
One Christmas Eve Molly Scott was going to bed and her mother was tucking her in to go to sleep. Outside it was snowing very much and a lot of homes were already covered in snow. Molly normally fell asleep very quickly, but today she couldn’t close here eyes. Then suddenly Molly heard a tapping on the window. She opened the curtains to see what it possibly could be. Molly was amazed to find a red squirrel on her window ledge. The poor squirrel was shivering. Molly opened the window to let her in.
“Thank you, you are so kind. Please may I have a few nuts, then I must tell you something very serious.”
Nettle, which was the squirrel’s name, of course, said very politely,
“These nuts are delicious.”
“But what is the ‘something serious’?” asked Molly.
“Oh,” said Nettle, “St Nicholas is stuck in a snowdrift – with all his reindeers and we must both help him. Molly had an idea.
“I’ll get some rope, it might be useful.”
It was very cold outside. The snow was deep. Molly’s teeth were chattering. Outside it looked as if a white sheet had been put over the entire town. Molly and Nettle walked and walked until they came to the biggest snow drift they had seen yet. Right in the middle of it was St Nicholas – or Santa as he likes to be called by his friends.
“Poor Santa,” whispered Molly. They could just see his red nose and eyes. His two hands stuck up in the air.
“How am I going to get out of all this? My poor reindeers. They are frozen with cold.”
“We’ll help you,” shouted Nettle and Molly together. “We’ve got some rope.”
They fastened the rope around Santa’s hands and pulled. They heave and they pulled but they still couldn’t get poor Santa out.
All of a sudden, Nettle ran off without telling where he was going.
“Oh, what shall we do now that Nettle has gone?” Santa moaned and burst into tears. “I will never get the toys to the poor children!”
A scampering sound came nearer and nearer until Nettle and a whole gang of squirrels came into view.
“Oh, Nettle. I knew you would come,” said Molly. At once all of the squirrels, Nettle having told them what to do, started digging deep in the snow.
“What on Earth are you doing, Nettle?” Molly asked in a confused tone. Nettle answered but in a muffled kind of way.
“Don’t you know I got my friends and told them to dig Santa out.” And sure enough, it worked. Santa was very impressed with how they had worked together.
“Thank you, Molly and Nettle.”
As a treat, Molly and Nettle had a ride on Santa’s sledge. Later, Molly went to bed and very quickly fell asleep. A very good time was had by all. In the morning, nobody found out why there was a lot of noise in the night. But Molly and Nettle knew!
Age 5-8 category
Second Place goes to Zara Holliday, aged 8
Squirrels Sleepless Night
One cold Christmas eve little squirrel was looking out his window, snow was falling it was a very special night for him.
After a big snack of nuts it time for bed so he scurried up to bed.
He brushed his teeth and washed his face then got his pyjamas on and got into bed. He tried and tried but he couldn't get to sleep. Hours passed he was still laying in bed awake so he started to count Raindeers "one, two, three, four, five this is no use".
"Santa will be hear soon with his Raindeers" He started to look at at his wishlist.
Dear Santa
I would love a humungus bag of Kp nuts, a big barral of acorns, a nice wooly vest carrieing on with clothes a red pair of cotten sockes and a green wooly hat.
love little Squirrel XOX
Reading made him very sleepy but he heard a loud ruserling it was comeing from the liveing room, little Squirril was soo annoyed he was going to sleep. He looked all around the room but he couldn't see anithing.
Then he heard a voice it sounded like "Help Help!" It was coming from the chimney so little Squirrel looked around and thier was Santa.
He couldn't beleve his eyes so he pinched him self and it was true. "please help me I'm stuck I've eaten to many mince pies"
"I'll help you but how"
"grab my leg and pull"
"I'm to small and your to big"
"I'll call my best friend Matty to help me"
"Hi Matty"
"oh hi little Squirrel"
"Matty I realy need your help Santa is stuck up my chimney bye"
a wile later nock nock it was Matty.
We pulled and pulled pop he came out he gave him a humongus bag of gifts and to celabrate we had a great big bottle od shampain and mince pies allso christmas cake witch was for the next day.
It was 3 o'clock ther was no point in going to bed now. Christmas was the best in the world. He got every thing he wanted including the bag of Kp nuts and all the wool clothes in the right colour.
he got to meet all the Raindeers and allso he got a ride on Rudolf it was so madgical. It was the best experence of his life Santa is so kind and Rudolf is so nice. He was very brown and furry Santa had a very long white beard and all dressed in red.
Little Squirrel loves christmas dinner he loved every bit of it.
Age 5-8 category
Third place goes to Joe Robinson, aged 6
The Young Squirrel
Once upon a time there was a squirrel. One day the squirrel went to his home and a mouse was in it. the mouse was in it because it was raining and He needed shelter The mouse had some of his food and he was eating it then the young red squirrel's daddy came back from his very long journey. A predator came past the young red squirrel's house When his mummy was coming It Was mummy's birthday that day and She was 37. the predator tried to get some of the mouses food and the mouse ran up the predator's back and he tried to get his food back. The next day it was nearly Christmas and the squirrel's were getting ready for Christmas They were collecting food for Christmas.
the End
The next age category is the 9-11 year olds.
First place goes to Tillie Foy, aged 10
Potkins a Christmas Hero
Hello, I'm Potkins and I'm a red squirrel. Do you want to come on a walk with me? Yes, well come on then, what are you waiting for?
I love the woods, there are so many great smells and sounds especially around Christmas time when the smell of freshly baked mince pie comes wafting through the forest from the village near by. Sometimes if you're lucky you'll get a quick sniff of roast chestnuts. Mmm, my favourite my mouth is watering just thinking of them.
So anyway back to me you'll probably want to know everything about me like how old I am (12) and where I live (22 Barko Avenue) but you don't need to know all of that but I'll tell you one of the most important parts of all...
"Good morning Potkins!"
"Morning Badger out on a walk are we?"
"Yes just off to collect the last bits of food for my store, takes me a long time it does. Bye."
"Bye"
So where was I? Oh yes the most important fact about me is I am Santa's helper only a few red squirrels can help Santa, and I am one of them.
What I do is around this special time of year is I go and check on all the little girls and boys and make sure they are all sound asleep in their cosy beds and then give my report to Santa that the coast is clear. OHH is that the time I really must be on my way, bye!
Sam Brown - Fast asleep
Nicola Brown - Peeking
Samuel Thompson - Not in bed!
Tillie Foy - Fast asleep.
Kitty Rose - Fast asleep.
Mitchell Joseph - Peeking.
Archie Rob...WHAT AN EARTH IS GOING ON IN THERE!!!!!! Let me get closer to the window. Who is that, what's he........
IT'S GRITHALL THEGREY stealing all of the children's letters I must do something quickly or Santa won't know what to leave. That nasty old grey squirrel!
I know I'll wait up on the roof behind the chimney pot, so when he scampers out I can get him but I'd better be quick he's almost finished!
"Caught you red handed you naughty squirrel! Why do you want those letters any way, they are not addressed to you are they?"
"No they're not, but I want to spoil their Christmas Ha Ha Ha!"
"Well I heard that Finnegan Fox was around this part of the village tonight looking for his Christmas dinner!"
"Really I'm out of here!" "Hey hold on, what about the letters?"
"Here keep them I don't really need them anyway!"
Well, that was some night I can't wait until the morning. Christmas Day is almost here, I'd better get some good old sleep! So that night Potkins lay in his bed all tucked up warm under his soft, cosy covers and fell fast asleep.
In the morning Potkins woke up in a very happy mood and he got ready to go and see all his friends and wish them a very happy Christmas. The snow was sprinkling down outside, so Potkins decided he should put on his scarf. While he was putting his scarf on he noticed somthing under his little Christmas tree. He went to tkae a closer look and to his surprise it was a little satin box with a ribbon around it. Potkins undid the ribbon excitedly and looked inside the box. It was lots of yummy roast chestnuts! Potkins got a bowl down off his shelf and tipped them into it. As he did so something else fell out. It was a golden chestnut and it had a little message attached to it, this is what it said:
Dear Potkins,
Here is just a little something for saving the children's letters from that naughty squirrel (I'll deal with him later) so that they could have a Christmas they really deserved!Merry Christmas
Lots of love Santa XXX
P.S Don't eat those chestnuts all at once! You'll get tummy ache.
Potkins was over the moon and he was so happy that he made Christmas dinner for all his friends in the forest with the roast chestnuts that Santa had left! THE END
"Wow Grandma, that was a great story can you read it again please, pretty please."
"Well maybe later."
"You two come on your Christmas dinner's are on the table getting cold!"
"Coming Mum. Merry Christmas Grandma!"
"Merry Christmas Archie!"
Age 9-11 category
Second Place goes to Lucie Dolton. aged 11
Who is Santa?
It Was Spring, all sorts of creatures were being born such as piglets and lambs. This story is about a little red squirrel that had never heard of Winter!
Ruby was a red squirrel. She lived next to Ullswater lake with a big sister Alice. One day she was hybernating when"PLONK" something hit her on the head. PLONK it happened again, Ruby opened one eye, she got out of bed and opebned her door. Up at the top of the tree there was a Robin making its nest. Ruby dodged all the twigs that were falling down. "O Im so sorry" said the Robin "My names Ryan" he said.
"Pleased to meet you Ryan" exclaimed Ruby. "Please can you stop the twigs from falling on me?" She asked. "Sure" said Ryan. Ruby looked round. "Why is there White Stuff everywhere?" Ruby asked.
"Thats snow" answered Ryan.
"Thats wierd! it wasn't here when I went to sleep!" She said.
"That's because it comes once a year and thats when u sleep it's called Winter"
Just then Ryan went to get some more twigs. So Ruby went back to bed and as soon as she closed her eyes she heard a "Ho, Ho, Ho." Ruby opened her eyes and went to have a look outside. There in the sky there was a mystery man rideing some kind of horse. "HO,HO,HO. he said again but this time he said it so loud Ruby Ruby fell out of her tree into the river and the one thing everyone knows about squirrels ios that they cant swim. The mystery man saw her and swooped down to save her!
He put her on the back of his horse thing and took her home. Ruby had cut her leg and couldn't walk but the mystery man fixed her leg in no time. "I'll tell you what! Just so you don't hurt yourself again Ill teach you to swim."
"That sounds fun" said Ruby. So the next day the mystery man taught Ruby to swim and they had such a good time! "Right then tommorow Ill take you home"
"What's your name?"asked Ruby.
"Santa"
"Santa?" said Ruby sounding suppriesed.
"Yes thats my name and...Oh my look at the time its time for bed Ruby"
Ruby didn't have any trouble sleeping and the next day she was home in no time! That night Santa came back, but this time he was riding a sliegh.
"Hop abord" he said "Please Could you read me this list please."
"What is it?" asked ruby
"Every Christmas I go round giveing the good humans and animals presents at midnight"
"OK then um first its Henry hedgehog" Santa stopped the sliegh at Rocky river "Next person please"
"Rachel Rabbit"
By the end of the night Santa had 2 more animals to go to. So he dropped Ruby off and Ruby went staight to slepp. The next morning Ruby found a present at the end of her bed, it was a pair of armbands and the first thing she did was go swimming. And if you visit Ullswater lake now you can still see her swim.
Age 9-11 category
Third place goes to Mark Clark, aged 11
How the Grinch Grey Stole Christmas
It was a nice snowy Christmas eve in Squirrel Ville every squirrel was getting their last minute presents except for one, the Grey, he was the most evilest squirrel of all and hated Christmas, he wanted to destroy it and pretend it never existed.
"Look at all those pathetic RED squirrels, some one needs to take better control of this town and banish Christmas FOREVER, MUHAHAHAHAHA *cough**cough* said the Grey in his low deep voice, the Grey was a scruffy, ugly and a bit overweight grey squirrel who was teased at school for being grey and eventually ran away from the town when he was a young squirrel and came to live in the mountains.
"Woof, Woof" barked his little companion which was a dog.
"oh shut up Milo, it's time to destroy Christmas once and for all".
The Grey started to build his very own sleigh that he could use for his evil scheme, he used old cans, news papers, metal sheets and lots of other bits and bobs he could find, at last he went to do his first test drive "Ready to go Milo, now pull the leaver" shouted Grey.
"Woof" replied Milo as he pull a metal leaver which released the sleigh and off it went heading for one of the walls, it lifted of the ground, it flew for around two minutes until he pulled the brake, parked it safely and climbed out.
"IT WORKS IT REAL...well of course it works" he said as he quickly changed his words, that night he also made his own Santa suite after that he went to get into his sleigh and set off around town to steel everyone's presents, he went house to house taking everything, the tree, the decorations, the food and left not even a crumb, he made no noise not even a squeak and he eventually made it to the last house in Squirrel Ville, he done the same there, took everything.
"oh, this is easy" well he thought it was until a little girl no older than 7 came down the stairs, he hid behind the tree and pretended to be Santa.
"Santa what are you doing with our tree" asked the girl.
"Don't you see this light is out and I'm taking it to my workshop to fix it" the Grey replied and quickly gave her some sleeping medicine and gave her, her teddy bear and took of with all their Christmas goods, when he came back he done his victory dance
"Oh yeah, oh yeah it couldn't go any better" he chanted and went off to bed, hoping to here everyone's Christmas spirit shattered into a million pieces.
Christmas day
The Grey woke from his good nights sleep and listened out to see what he could here.
"Were are all of our presents" said a squirrel.
"We've been robbed" cried another.
"I bet it was the Grey" shouted the mayor of the town.
"don't let it ruin Christmas, we can still sing carols and have a party" said the 7 year old girl. "She's right"replied another squirrel.
"WHAT, how can they be happy after I took their presents" said the Grey angrily.
All he coud hear was the carols and laughter of them in in the town and the size of his heart shrinking until it broke and he died sadly on his bed.
THE END
The final category is the 12-15 year olds.
First place in this age group has been awarded to Benn James, aged 12.
The Red Squirrel at Christmas Story Competition
Hi I'm Walt, I'm a squirrel, I was brought home last yaer by a boy called David, He's 10 years old and he's my best friend. David said he'd take care of me as I had lost my mum, so long as we kept it our little secret. Since then I've lived in David's tree house.
I've learned to talk, compltete obstacle courses, jump over hurdles and swing from tree to tree. Although at meal times I get tired of eating acorns, I enjoy it when he treats me to nuts.
When David takes me out we go in to the forest for more acorns, for me to eat. But sometimes we go along to the local shop for nuts although it's a longer walk, but I like it better as he takes me in his rucksack.
Every thing was going well until one day David and his friend Eric came to see me; we went up into the tree house, because David and Eric wantyed to talk to me. They said I had to go back to the woods. David said, "You'll have to go back to the woods because mum found out about you and said I have to set you free." David and I had a fall out, because what he tiold me made me sad, so I ran away. David can't keep up with me so there wasn't any point in trying to catch me but he put in a good effort in stopping me from getting away.
Although I was going to come back I couldn't do it, I thought by now David would be looking for me in the woods, so I set off back to my tree where I used to live. It was lonely as none of my friends were there anymore and I liked living with David better because he used to give me all my food and drink.
It's been a week now and David hasn't been past my old house yet, I think I'll go back to where he found me the first time under the hollow tree to see if he might be there. On my journey there I was a bit scared because I saw a hunter and that meant there were foxes around. So hopefully there'll be one on the way back. It started snowing heavily so I couldn't see any foot prints.
Just then there were two other foxes surrounding my tree. I had to make it to the next tree, but it was about two metres away, I thought to myself that I had to do it. But I knew if I didn't try then I'd have to go down, but then the foxes would get me, so I went for it! But I didn't make it! I suppose David didn't help me when he taught me how to jump. I got hurt, but luckily I landed on a wall, so the foxes couldn't get me.
Twenty minutes later the foxes went to catch a rabbit but I couldn't move because I was hurt, but two days later David and Eric came and they were shouting for me, but I still couldn't move. I tried to shout back but they didn't hear me, but an hour later they came back and found me.
When they found me David said that he would ask his mum if I could come back to his house until I was better. David's mum agreed that he could keep as it was Christmas, but only until I got better and got used to living within the wild. I enjoyed having the company at Christmas and the cracking of the nuts, because in the woods I had to find my own food.
After two months I had to go to the wild but after that I came back everyday for food and to see David, and sometimes Eric, if he was there. I met some new squirrel friends when I went back to the woods, but always visited David, which made me feel safe.
My new friends were really cool they helped me catch food and find water, and I taught them how to talk and do obstacle courses, and hurdles. After all the things I showed them they introduced me to another squirrel who knew my dada, so in the end I got to meet my dad and we got on with each other and became good friends.
I was enjoying myself when David and Eric came to see me they said that David was moving away in two months, so I could only vivist him for anothetwo months. I felt quite sad, I had to get on with my life, but I introduced David and Eric to my dad and they liked him. I visited David for two months until he moved away.
Age 12-15 category
Second place goes to Carmel Robinson, aged 13.
Red Squirrel Adventures in Snow
I was walking in the forest where the white snow laid, glistening through the gaps in the trees. I saw something scurry amongst the white hoar trees...
I looked up and there it was:the most magnificent crteature I have ever seen! It was a red squirrel who was rummaging through the snow to find juicy red berries and crunchy nuts.
It heard my footsteps, so it scurried away quickly.
I came back the next week when the snow had cleared up I saw that same beautiful red squirrel, but it wasn't moving, I tip-toed closer until I was kneeling next to it. I glanced up and sawthat it had got its paw stuck in the wire mesh. So I gently picked up the red squirrel, I untangled the wire mesh, then I called my mum on my cell phone, within no time my mum was pulling up in our Land Rover. My mum leapt out of the car with a box tightly gripped in her hands, she rolled the squirrel into the box, lightly closing the lid.
The next dat the vet phoned my mum to say that it was good news and that we could come and pick up the squirrel today. So off we went to pick the squirrel up, when we got there the squirrel was just eating hazelnuts.
A few months later my mum said we need to talk she said "You need to let the squirrel go free in to its natural habitat!." I thought long and hard and agreed it was the right thing to do. I took the squirrel to where I had found it and opened the box and said
"Run free." Tears were strolling down my eyes. I will never forget the day I set the red squirrel free!!!
Age 12-15 category
Third place goes to Catherine McGuckian, aged 12
The Christmas Squirrel
Hi, I'm Charlie. I'm a girl squirrel. Live in a big forest near a big lake. I'm going to tell you a story of what happened in my life. It was around Christmas time.
Well where do I begin? I'll think start of by the lake. I was just having a rummage for nuts when a dear ran past me. A few minutes later a man in a red and white suit came running past. I got so bored that I felt and erg to follow him. I kept running until we came to a sleigh. On the front were 12 reindeer. The front one was the most unusual. It had a bright red nose that seemed to light up.
Out of the blue the man in the suit said, "I've been waiting for you. Hop in and I'll tell you more." So without even looking at me he and I climbed into the sleigh. With one slap of his reins, the reindeers took off.
One minute their galloping on the ground and the next thing I know there in the misty clouds.
With all the excitement I past out!
I woke up in a warm bed with hot chocolate by my side. "How are you?" said a stout but kind woman on the other side of the bed. "I'm fine" I said still shocked by the ride. "who was that in the sleigh?"
"You don't know who you were with?"
I shook my head confused.
"You were with Father Christmas."
I thought I was going to pass out again when the woman grabbed hold of my hand and shook it lightly so I didn't fall into a trance again.
After that I got a light supper of beans on toast and went to see Father Christmas again. He was sipping a drink of hot coco then he put it down when he saw me. "Look, " he said bluntly getting staright to the point of why I'm here. "You are here because there is a problem in the factory. There is a hole in the wall where my keys for the new toys are kept. I need you to get through the wall ASAP. Do you understand?"
"Yes, " I said. "But how?" I began.
"They fell out of my pocket and went through and there is no one small enough to fit any part of there body to evenn feel them, does that answer your question?" He said whilst we were walking into a different room."Yes, "I said. "And here it is." I looked down to see a tiny hole about 3cm wide.
"Please go in now for Christmas is in 4 minutes and 23 seconds." So without asking a question I scrambled in the hole. It took a minute or so for my eyes to adjust to the dark. Then I saw the sparkling brass keys in the corner. I ran towards them and then picked them up and ran out of the hole. He grabbed the keys and ran off with them.
After that I've lived here in this big house with Father Chrsitmas and his wife.
THE END
Well, I'm afriad that's the last of the stories. I hope you enjoyed reading them - I'm sure you did!
A big congratulations to all of you budding authors! Keep writing!
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