And the Forest Service is planning a red squirrel activity day this month to celebrate the reappearance of the beleaguered native rodent.

A spokesperson for the service said it has received a number of reports of sightings of native red squirrels in the past year - welcome news as it was feared they had vanished from the area.

"Over the past number of years there have been few recorded sightings of the red squirrel in this area and with the obvious abundant presence of the alien grey squirrels, it was feared that the red squirrels had been driven away or died out," he said.

The Forest Service said it remained a mystery whether the red squirrels have been there all along but keeping a low profile or had recolonised from a nearby forest.

This Sunday, a red squirrel activity day will be held at Rostrevor Forest as part of the Fiddler's Green Festival. The Forest Service mobile will be at the Kilbroney Park Cafe car park from 11am until 4pm.

The good news comes as the Government finalises an action plan to restore red squirrel numbers. Environment minister Arlene Foster told the Assembly that the Species Action Plan (SAP) should be issued for public consultation later this year.

"One of the measures likely to be recommended in the SAP is the creation of red squirrel reserves which will be defended against the ingress of the grey squirrel," she said.

It is understood that the plan may propose culling grey squirrels in red squirrel strongholds such as the Glens of Antrim.