A UNIQUE beer which will go some way to ensuring Squirrel Nutkins and Tufty have a long and happy life has been created especially for Kilnsey Park and Trout Farm.

Red Squirrel ale is being brewed by Wharfedale Breweries, situated just down the road at Cracoe, for sale in the park restaurant.

The chef is also planning to use it in his cooking.

And as real ale lovers are sipping the 4.5 per cent abv (alcohol by volume) beer, they can take additional comfort from the fact that five pence from each bottle sold is going towards a red squirrel conservation trust - something close to Kilnsey Park's heart.

The brewery was started four years ago by Steve Blizzard, of Hartlington Hall, Burnsall, and Broughton Hall estate manager David Aynesworth.

"Red Squirrel is a lovely premium bitter, craft brewed (hand-made) to a 1950s recipe using pale amber, amber and crystal malt which gives it a mahogany colour and a smooth roasted malt flavour," said Geoff Peacock, who has been with the brewery for two years.

Vanessa Roberts, owner of Kilnsey Park said she was thrilled with the ale and the whole concept that it was helping conserve the endangered native red squirrel.

"We are delighted to have teamed up with Wharfedale Beweries for this venture.

"There are great similarities between our products - the Wharfedale ales are brewed with pure Dales water and of course it is that very water that gives Kilnsey Park trout its delicious, distinctive taste.

"Put the two together and the result should be a unique experience for visitors.

She also enthused about the conservation side of the product.

"We care passionately about red squirrels at Kilnsey Park and indeed we breed them here in captivity to ensure their safety.

"We will be donating the money to research into a vaccine to protect red squirrels against the parapox disease that is carried by grey squirrels but which kills the reds," she added.