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Red squirrels are notoriously hard to spot, mainly because there aren't very many of them. But if you visit Brownsea Island in the autumn, you'll give yourself the best chance of seeing them in the flesh.Ìý

They eat pine cones, berries, nuts and seeds

Chris Thaine, a warden of the Dorset Wildlife Trust nature reserve on Brownsea, said, "Autumn is the best time to see red squirrels on Brownsea because this is the time of year when they come down onto the ground to cache their fruit for the winter.

"Anyone coming on a reasonably nice day in late autumn will almost certainly see squirrels."

"They like things like sweet chestnuts, and acorns and fruits like blackberries and apples and all sorts of things. They're particularly at home on Brownsea because there is a wide variety of habitats so they've got lots of woodland."

There are also no other threats such as foxes, stoats, weasels or domestic cats.

The red squirrel is an endangered species. The islands in Poole Harbour and the Isle of Wight are the only places in the South of England where they survive. On Brownsea there are between 100 and 200 squirrels in wooded areas all over the island.

The sea acts as the red squirrels' protection and should a grey ever make its way onto the shores of Brownsea, it could mean the end of the red squirrel colony. Luckily so far no grey has made it across but if it ever did, it would have to be removed.

Red squirrels are smaller than their grey cousins

Red v grey

It's not that the two species fight. Greys are a threat to the reds because they out-compete their smaller cousins for food and habitat and they produce more offspring throughout the year. Greys also carry a nasty disease called the parapox. The greys are not affected by it but they can pass it onto the reds with disastrous consequences.

The conservation team on Brownsea Island is working to try to increase the red squirrel population. One thing that will help is the ongoing project to clear the island of rhododendrons to let more light into the woodland and allow their favourite trees such as scots pine and beech to grow.

They're also putting up nesting boxes for the squirrels.

A squirrel walk has been set up in the centre of Brownsea Island to give visitors the best chance of seeing the creatures.

Do the walk in autumn and Chris Thaine believes that people will be "close to guaranteeing" seeing one. He suggests looking up in the trees and standing still and it won't be long before a red squirrel will appear to help themselves to a tasty acorn, fir cone or blackberry.Ìý