RED squirrels have been snapped out and about in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

International wildlife photographer John Birch took advantage of autumnal woodlands making it easier to spot the squirrels.

Unlike greys, red squirrels do not hibernate and the bare trees of winter give the best opportunity to spot them.

Since the introduction of grey squirrels from North America in the 1870s, reds have struggled to survive as the non-native greys dominate territories.

However, thanks to a raft of conservation projects, the protected red squirrel is now thriving in many parts of the North.

This includes in the Yorkshire Dales where the National Park Authority has worked with landowners, volunteers and visitors to help educate people about how best to protect them.