Red Squirrel Survival Trust

Name

Red Squirrel Survival Trust

Legal name

Red Squirrel Survival Trust

Website

https://rsst.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation
• Red squirrel protection
• Habitat preservation
• Conservation research
• Volunteer coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The primary revenue stream comes from public donations, including one-time and regular contributions. The organization runs donation campaigns during Red Squirrel Awareness Week and other events.
2. Legacies: Legacy donations (gifts in wills) are described as vital, enabling the organization to expand the scope of activities beyond regular donations.
3. Merchandise Sales: The organization operates an online shop selling merchandise including tote bags, mugs, ties, and other items. Delivery is available to UK addresses only, with orders processed within 3 working days via Royal Mail. Payments are handled securely through Stripe.
4. Grants to Volunteer Groups: RSST provides grants to local red squirrel conservation groups, such as the £14,120 grant awarded to the Red Squirrels Forum for South Scotland for thermal imaging equipment and trail cameras.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Red Squirrel Survival Trust is a UK nonprofit charity that coordinates red squirrel conservation through volunteer groups, funds fertility control research (including a world-first grey squirrel oral contraceptive programme delivered with APHA and the UK Squirrel Accord), runs public awareness campaigns such as Red Squirrel Awareness Week, and operates an online shop selling branded merchandise to support fundraising. It also grant-funds local conservation groups with equipment such as thermal imaging cameras.

Product overview

Red Squirrel Survival Trust operates as a charitable organization offering a portfolio of conservation-focused programs and services rather than a unified commercial product. Core offerings include direct red squirrel conservation programs, volunteer coordination, and fertility control research conducted in partnership with UK Squirrel Accord and APHA. Fundraising services encompass donations (one-time, regular, and legacy gifts) and an online shop selling branded merchandise. Public engagement programs include the annual RSST Photograph Competition, Red Squirrel Awareness Week campaigns, and published educational booklets. Research initiatives cover woodland damage from grey squirrels and the development of oral contraceptives for grey squirrel population control.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Red Squirrel Conservation Programs Charitable conservation programmes focused on protecting and preserving the UK's native red squirrel populations through habitat protection, population monitoring, and community engagement, delivered in coordination with UK Squirrel Accord, APHA, Defra, and local volunteer groups.
• Donations and Fundraising Services Charity donation services enabling public financial support for red squirrel conservation, including one-time donations, regular/monthly giving, and legacy gifts (gifts in wills). Processed securely through Stripe on the RSST website.
• RSST Online Shop Own-brand ecommerce store selling red squirrel themed merchandise including tote bags, mugs, ties, and other items. UK delivery only, processed within 3 working days via Royal Mail, with secure payment via Stripe.
• Fertility Control Research Research initiative, run in partnership with the UK Squirrel Accord, Defra, and APHA, to develop an effective and affordable oral contraceptive for grey squirrels in order to reduce their population and protect red squirrels across the woodlands of the British Isles.
• Volunteer Coordination and Support Coordination and support service for volunteer red squirrel conservation groups across the UK, including networking, training resources, and the annual Volunteer of the Year (David Stapleford Trophy) recognition programme.

Quantifiable outcome

• World first achieved for wildlife fertility control research
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Dani Connor WildminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2021Ambassador collaboration with zoologist and wildlife photographer Dani Connor Wild to raise awareness of British red squirrels through documentary videos on YouTube, adapted for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
• UK Squirrel AccordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSST works in partnership with the UK Squirrel Accord to bring an effective and affordable grey squirrel fertility control system to the woodlands of the British Isles. The UK Squirrel Accord coordinates red squirrel conservation efforts across the UK.
• Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPHA is delivering the multi-year grey squirrel fertility control research programme. RSST has helped catalyze this world-first research initiative in partnership with Defra, UK Squirrel Accord, and APHA.
• DefracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartment for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs partners with RSST on grey squirrel fertility regulation research being delivered by APHA.
• Red Squirrels Forum for South ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSST provides grants to this umbrella organization covering 18 Red Squirrel conservation groups and 350 volunteers from Galloway to Berwick. Equipment including thermal imagers and trail cameras are distributed across the region.
• Trees For LifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrees For Life runs the Red Squirrel Reintroduction Project in the Scottish Highlands since 2015, led by RSST. Nine new populations have been successfully established through translocation of over 170 squirrels.
• Cornwall Red Squirrel ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrustee Sir Ferrers Vyvyan serves as ancestral guardian of Trelowarren Estate and leads the reintroduction project on the Lizard Peninsula, working to establish 70-100 red squirrels.
• Ulster WildlifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Northern Ireland managing species-focused conservation projects for Red Squirrels across 19 nature reserves.
• Cumbria Wildlife TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStephen Trotter, CEO of Cumbria Wildlife Trust, serves as RSST Trustee. Partnership involves survey and monitoring of squirrel populations and coordination of grey squirrel control.
• Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for red squirrel conservation across Northern England, coordinating efforts with Wildlife Trusts of Northumberland, Cumbria, and Lancashire.
• HRH The Prince of WalescoreOthersHRH The Prince of Wales is the long-standing Patron of RSST, providing royal support and encouragement for volunteers and conservation efforts.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• UK Squirrel Accord: Strategic partner organization coordinating red squirrel conservation across the UK. Highly comparable as it shares the same mission, member groups, and fertility control research agenda with RSST.
• Trees For Life: Scottish conservation charity that runs the Red Squirrel Reintroduction Project with RSST, having established nine new populations and translocated over 170 squirrels. Directly comparable on species reintroduction methodology.
• Vincent Wildlife Trust: UK mammal conservation charity with focus on bats, dormice, and pine martens. Comparable on species-specific conservation methodology, research programs, and volunteer coordination model.
• People's Trust for Endangered Species: UK charity funding species recovery work for native mammals. Comparable as a small UK wildlife charity running targeted species conservation programs with volunteer and grant-based models.

Broad incumbents

• National Trust: UK's largest conservation charity managing land, estates, and gardens. Comparable through land management for wildlife and Stephen Trotter's prior role as Estate Warden, but operates at vastly greater scale across all heritage assets.
• Woodland Trust: UK charity focused on woodland conservation and restoration. Comparable mission overlap given grey squirrel bark-stripping damage and shared interest in broadleaf woodland protection.
• The Wildlife Trusts: Umbrella of 46 UK wildlife trusts delivering conservation at scale. Highly comparable through regional Wildlife Trusts (e.g., Cumbria, Northumberland, Lancashire) that RSST partners with, but operating as a much broader portfolio player.
• RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds): Largest UK wildlife conservation charity with over 1 million members. Comparable as a species-protection nonprofit with extensive volunteer programs, though focused on birds and habitats rather than a single mammal species.

Regional players

• Ulster Wildlife: Northern Ireland wildlife charity managing 19 nature reserves including red squirrel habitat work. Comparable as a regional partner with shared red squirrel conservation agenda but geographically Northern Ireland-only.
• Scottish Wildlife Trust: Scotland-focused member conservation charity operating nature reserves and species programs. Comparable through its Species Champion program (RSST's Dr Peter Garson was 2020 Species Champion) but primarily Scottish rather than UK-wide.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rsquirrelstrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/rsquirrelstrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/redsquirrelsurvivaltrust
• Pinterestpinterest.com/redsquirrelsurvivaltrust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Red Squirrel Survival Trust