Mark Hamblin
Bringing back pine martens
Pine Martens Bounce Back: The Two Moors Pine Marten Project
Shy, curious and playful. The pine marten is a stealthy, acrobatic hunter that relies on the cover of woods and trees for its foraging missions. It was once a fundamental part of our woodlands, but it is now critically endangered in England and Wales and completely extinct on the south west peninsula. As a result, we have lost a beautiful, fascinating wild creature that plays a key role in our woodland natural processes.
Pine Martens Bounce Back: the Two Moors Pine Marten project aims to establish pine marten populations in Dartmoor and Exmoor to restore this missing link in our woodland environment and to help people live alongside these amazing animals once more.
Follow the progress of this project and how you can get involved by signing up to Pine Marten Diaries
Pine Martens Bounce Back: The Two Moors Pine Marten Project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, this project aims to restore healthy populations of pine martens to the South West of England.
Alongside the animal’s return will be an ambitious programme of community activities which will engage thousands of people in exploring, learning about and caring for the region’s woodlands.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
Mark Hamblin/2020VISION
What is a pine marten?
Pine martens are members of the weasel family of animals. They are around the size of a small cat and are wonderful tree climbers. This makes them ideally suited to living in woodlands.
They are mainly nocturnal and most of the time they live alone in sparse populations – so you’re unlikely to see one unless you are very lucky!
Much of the pine marten’s diet is made up of voles, but they will also eat other small animals including mice, squirrels, birds and insects. In autumn they also consume a lot of wild fruits.
We’ve put together more pine marten facts to help you get to know these fascinating animals.
Take a sneak peak at pine martens in this video (with thanks to Vincent Wildlife Trust)
Mark Hamblin/2020VISION
Why do we need pine martens back?
Their absence has left our local wildlife without a vital, functioning part. As predators of small animals, pine martens play a vital role in balancing nature, especially in our woodlands.
The return of pine martens to this area would be a positive step in restoring the fortunes of local wildlife at a time when it faces huge challenges.
You can follow their progress by signing up to Pine Marten Diaries
Terry Whittaker/2020VISION
Where and when will the first pine martens be released?
The project is currently working with experts and local communities to prepare for the release of the first pine martens on Dartmoor in Autumn 2024. You can follow their progress by signing up to Pine Marten Diaries here
We’ve put together a brief timeline of what the project has done already and what will happen next.
Who is involved in the Two Moors Pine Marten Project?
The project is led by Devon Wildlife Trust and is a partnership between seven conservation organisations: Dartmoor National Park Authority, Devon Wildlife Trust, Exmoor National Park Authority, Forestry England, National Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Woodland Trust.
The project is made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and with thanks to the National Lottery players. This project is also supported by Turnstyle Designs, Devon Environment Foundation and The Benindi Fund and other generous donors.
This project has received expert advice and guidance from Vincent Wildlife Trust, NatureScot and the Zoological Society of London.
We’ve put together some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help you learn more about the project and how it will work.
Donate and help bring back pine martens to the South West
Terry Whittaker/2020VISION
Interested in finding out more?
In our first public event on the Two Moors Pine Marten project, DWT's Conservation Manager, Ed Parr Ferris introduced the project and what it is about pine martens which makes them such an important missing part of our landscapes. Ed was joined by Dr Jenny MacPherson, Science and Research Programme Manager for Vincent Wildlife Trust. Watch the recording here.
Watch Tracey Hamston, project lead of the Two Moors Pine Marten Project, gave an update on the project and next steps. Watch the recording here.
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