The National Trust’s Holnicote Estate in West Somerset has launched an innovative approach to grey squirrel control, using trained volunteers with air rifles. Why traditional grey squirrel control failedLethal trapping was abandoned when pine martens were discovered on the estate, as traps posed a serious risk to these protected predators. Air rifles provide a practical solutionInstead, trained volunteers now work from fixed bait stations, using air rifles to humanely cull grey squirrels. Between October 2024 and June 2025, around 150 grey squirrels were removed from the most badly damaged areas. This joint effort shows how air rifles can be used effectively for grey squirrel control, even in sensitive public landscapes.