I love Squirrels!

The number of gray squirrels in this area has reduced this year, don't know the reason for this, possibly du to all the trees that were planted several years ago being more mature now or there may be some pine martens moving into the area

Hopefully, you reduced number of grey squirrels is because the pine martins are moving in. I was involved in the Pine martin release project and they are moving down the country and breeding well. The red squirrel populations where they have been released have increased and grey squirrels are being eaten or moving away from those areas.  If only Pine martins would move over my way, would solve my issue.