The Red Squirrel Breeding Programme
At Kelling Heath we are pleased to have captive Red Squirrels, which are part of a national scheme for captive breeding. The aim of this scheme is to set up a reserve of animals for use in controlled and closely monitored release projects.

Since 1999 we have bred over 20 kittens (as the young are called) which have been either sent to other enclosures or released into the wild where established colonies still thrive.

Latest news... During the winter of 2010 and 2011 we refurbished the breeding enclosure providing a new environment that the squirrels have enjoyed. Currently we have two males in the enclosure and are trying to secure a female. Unfortunately there is a shortage of female red squirrels nationally and we are keeping our fingers crossed that one can be found from within the breeding programme in time for the 2012 breeding season.

Silver-studded Blue Butterflies (Plebejus argus)
Here at Kelling Heath we have a rare butterfly - the Silver-studded Blue. It has declined throughout Britain becoming extinct in northern, central and southeast regions. The main reason for this decline is the loss of suitable heathland on which they depend, in the last century much Heathland has been planted for forestry, ploughed for agriculture or left unmanaged.

Silver-studded Blues became extinct on Kelling Heath by the 1970's mainly due to a lack of management. Following a study of heathlands in Norfolk, by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and English Nature, Kelling Heath was found to be a suitable place to reintroduce the butterfly, if appropriate management was carried out.

In 2001 several adult butterflies were translocated from another site in Norfolk to two release sites on Kelling Heath. Since then the butterflies have been increasing in number and have spread into new areas. Management is carried out each year to improve the area for the butterflies and other heathland wildlife and each year we have seen an increase in the numbers of Silver-studded Blues on the heath.

Protecting our bee population
Bumblebees are among the more familiar of our insects but are under increasing threat due to changes in how the countryside is farmed. The number of species found in most of lowland Britain has halved since 1950 and three species have gone nationally extinct and several more may follow in the near future unless action is taken.

Bees feed exclusively on pollen and nectar and there are now far fewer flowers in the countryside than there once were. Hedges have been removed and marshes drained and unimproved grasslands which are rich in wildflowers have been lost and replaced by silage and cereal fields.

There is also concern about the decline in honeybees particularly from the Varroa mite which is decimating colonies throughout the world and which has been the subject of debate worldwide and in our own Houses of Parliament.

Bees make an important contribution to the sustainability of the countryside, contributing both to agriculture and horticulture and to biodiversity. They also produce honey and other hive products and further losses will have serious implications on food production both in the UK and worldwide.

Working with the Bumble Bee Conservation Trust and other agencies we intend to:

• Survey the species of bees that are currently present at Kelling Heath to obtain a base level of species and if possible numbers
• Research the habitat that is required for bees to thrive and review how we can provide pockets of suitable habitat at Kelling Heath without compromising existing habitats
• Raise funds throughout the year to assist in the provision of habitat for bees
• Interpret the threats to the bee population to visitors and show how we are attempting to reverse the decline
• Provide simple guidance on how visitors can play their part in helping to preserve the bee population in their own gardens across Britain