Gastronomic interest in squirrels intensified this week after a peer in the House of Lords called on celebrity chefs and caterers to start putting the rodent on the menu.
Former Tory national heritage minister Lord Inglewood wants greys to become a dinner option to help the plight of native red squirrels, which are being wiped out by their more aggressive American cousins.
"What about celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver promoting it for school dinners?" said Inglewood.
Craig James, head chef at Butlers Wharf Chop House and an advocate of squirrel meat, agreed. "If you're a game lover you only normally have a choice of pigeon, rabbit and hares at this time of year," he said. "But squirrel is a really tasty and affordable meat. If bird flu hits, squirrel's going to be huge."