Views sought on Pine Marten restoration project
People in the South East are being invited to put forward their views on the prospect of restoring Pine Martens to the region by a group of conservationists who are examining the feasibility of returning the animal to the region.
The Pine Marten Restoration Project is a partnership between Kent Wildlife Trust, Wildwood Trust, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Ashdown Forest and Forestry England and involves the organisations working together, as part of the Stakeholder Working Group, to investigate if the South East would be suitable for the potential return of Pine Marten.
Pine Martens were a regular sight in Britain until the 19th century when numbers fell dramatically due to hunting and habitat loss. They play important roles which contribute to a biodiverse environment by dispersing the seeds they eat as well as influencing small mammal populations through predation as part of their varied diet.
The project is developing a 10-year strategy, working with over 35 organisations as well as groups of local people, ensuring that all voices are heard. Throughout this year social and ecological studies will continue and part of that will involve examining the habitat to see if it is suitable for Pine Marten but also how local people feel about the project and if they would support it moving forward.
Species Recovery Officer for Sussex Wildlife Trust, Matt Phelps, said:
“Local people are crucial to the success of any proposed reintroduction project. We want to hear from anyone who may have questions, concerns or might want to be involved in the project on a voluntary level. Please do check our website and sign up for updates as we start out on this exciting journey of collaboration and discovery. You can also sign up to assist us with wildlife surveying or attend a focus group if you wish. We welcome anyone and everyone to be involved.”
People can find out more about the project by signing up for updates and following the organisations on social media. Please contact us if you have any questions about the project.
The Pine Marten Restoration Project
- A collaboration of conservationists is examining the feasibility of a Pine Marten reintroduction to the South East.
- People are being asked for their views on restoring the Pine Marten to the region.
- In other areas the Pine Marten has been brought back from the brink of extinction after numbers fell dramatically in the 19th century, due to human activities.
- They are said to boost biodiversity and help to influence small mammal populations.
- The Pine Marten restoration project is developing a 10-year strategy with social and ecological feasibility studies beginning this year.
Comments
I know very little about Pine Martens and would be interested in how they affect biodiversit and how they impact on smaller mammals. Also how might they affect gardens and wild animals that already use our gardens.
23 Feb 2024 10:57:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Pine Martens have an extremely varied diet, with the most significant component comprising small mammals such as Field and Bank Voles. They will also eat birds and their eggs, invertebrates including beetles and wasps’ nests and large quantities of berries in the autumn. They will consume what is locally and seasonally abundant. Crucially, Pine Martens are a native predator. Therefore, native forest species will have evolved alongside pine martens and should have some inherent fear of Pine Martens, reducing their chance of predation. Scientific studies have shown that the presence of apex predators in an ecosystem helps to keep stable and healthy prey populations.
More information about Pine Marten can be found here.
We live on the edge of Ashdown Forest and it would be wonderful to think that Pine Martins could be living close by. Their penchant for Grey Squirrel would also be a great win as we are currently overrun with them and they do a huge amount of damage.
27 Feb 2024 09:45:00
Very interested to hear about the project, which I saw via the BBC news site today. Reintroduction of species should be seriously considered wherever it is viable – I was very interested to read about the reintroduction of beavers in the Cairngorms, and there the concerns from landowners was about flooding.
With pine martens its hard to see what the down side of reintroduction is. I guess given that there previous demise was through hunting and loss of habitat, then the first issue is how to reintroduce them and keep them safe? I’m intrigued by the issue of loss of habitat though, as there isn’t an obvious resurgence in forested areas. Would there need to be sustained breeding programme in order to maintain a pine marten population across multiple, disconnected sites? Or is this research phase about determining locations that are of a size to home (in the longer term) self sustaining but genetically healthy pine marten community/ies?
27 Feb 2024 15:47:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Despite recent recoveries and successful reintroductions in other areas the Pine Marten remains one of Britain’s rarest mammals, with an estimated population of about 3,700. Human-induced factors, such as habitat destruction and persecution, have put them at risk of extinction. Afforestation in the 20th century has led to the restoration of more habitat for the species, but their slow reproduction, with only one or two kits every few years, makes their natural recovery a rather lengthy process. Relying on natural recovery across Britain, resulting from the stronghold population found in Scotland, will therefore take a very long time. Successful reintroductions in Wales and the Forest of Dean underscore the need to enable the creation of additional populations that connect to ensure genetic and geographic variability.
The South East Pine Marten Restoration Project is a great opportunity to aid the recovery of this native species in regions where it once thrived. Research has identified potential viable locations in the South East where reintroduction may be successful, with existing populations in Hampshire opening up the possibility for ecological connections into neighbouring counties.
The species thrives in mosaic landscapes with large woodland complexes, found in areas like Ebernoe Common, The Mens, The New Forest, Ashdown Forest, and the High Weald. Their average territory size is roughly 10-25km2 for males and about 5-15km2 for females. This is part of what makes them such a flagship species for habitat restoration and the creation of ‘Nature Recovery Networks’ that will unlock ecological resilience against climate change. It’ll also help maintain and restore important habitat for a range of species by creating a landscape that is, on the whole, more biodiverse and interconnected. Matt Phelps
We live on the edge of Ashdown Forest and it would be wonderful to think that Pine Martins could be living close by. Their penchant for Grey Squirrel would also be a great win as we are currently overrun with them and they do a huge amount of damage.
28 Feb 2024 08:58:00
Seen reports of a consultation on potential pine marten release in Sussex/Kent, but can’t find where to participate. Can you supply a link? Many thanks
15 Mar 2024 23:05:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Hi Rebecca. The 22 focus groups have now all concluded, but please do sign up to the mailing list for future updates. https://sussexwildlifetrust.or...
I am a retired Voluntary Ranger for Ashdown Forest and bird guide.I believe that biodiversity would benefit greatly from the reintroduction of Pine Martins into suitable woodland areas in Sussex such as Ashdown Forest,helping to restore the natural balance.Pine Martens are native ,only made extinct by our activities The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.
Pine Martens are arboreal living in trees ( not being a threat to chickens unlike foxes) and their natural prey includes crows,magpies and woodpigeons.They will also eat Grey Squirrels
17 Mar 2024 15:52:00
Surely it’s wishful thinking to believe that Pine Martens will control animals we ‘wish’ them to control, e.g. corvids and Grey Squirrels, and leave alone those which we don’t ‘wish’ them to control, such as songbirds and Dormice. Isn’t it the case that the population of the Pine Marten will, like that of the Mink, rapidly reach a level which requires them to be controlled … by humans? Has the reintroduction of any apex predator been successful in a natural world so greatly disturbed by human beings?
15 Aug 2024 14:35:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
There has been a population of Pine Marten in the New Forest since the early 2000s (at least) and the Forest still supports some of the most significant populations of scarce breeding bird species such as Hawfinch, Tree Pipit, Woodlark, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Redstart.
Predators are crucial in fostering resilient and functional ecosystems. Unlike the Mink, the Pine Marten is a native species but, due to hunting and habitat loss numbers fell. They are omnivores who play an important role in Britain's natural fauna, including seed dispersal. We're still in the very early stages of the project to determine whether the South East is even suitable for the Pine Marten's return, working with many stakeholders.
I think reintroducing Pine Martens back into more of their native areas like Sussex and Kent is a really important and good thing. We have lost multiple trees to grey squirrels eating rings around the bark, they are breeding out of control. My understanding is that Pine Martens are a natural predator to Grey Squirrels. Where the Red Squirrels evolved alongside the Martens and are smaller than greys, they’re able to run to the end of branches that are too small for the Martens. Grey Squirrels are not able to do this and would therefore be prey for the Martens. If this is correct, then the sooner the better! Plus.. they’re super cute and cause no damage in Scotland and the West country to my knowledge?
18 Aug 2024 20:49:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Thank you
I’m part of a group that has recently become stewards of 20 acres of woods near the Ashdown Forest. We would like to know what might be involved with hosting a release of pine Martin as we are looking at how best to protect our trees from squirrels and more widely restore the woods to a better ecological balance.
02 Sep 2024 19:46:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Thank you for your offer, we will be in touch
My wife and I had the pleasure of coming into very close contact with a wild Pine Marten on a recent Scottish holiday. We live near the Ashdown Forrest and I would very much support the reintroduction and return of these mammals this habitat. Given the growing evidence of the benefit they bring in reducing/eliminating the invasive grey squirrel population (which could in time help promote our native reds) and the fact that they would help deliver a more balanced local ecosystem, we would very much favour a reintroduction and would be willing to assist in this endeavour.
01 Oct 2024 11:23:00
My wife and I had the pleasure of coming into very close contact with a wild Pine Marten on a recent Scottish holiday. We live near the Ashdown Forrest and I would very much support the reintroduction and return of these mammals this habitat. Given the growing evidence of the benefit they bring in reducing/eliminating the invasive grey squirrel population (which could in time help promote our native reds) and the fact that they would help deliver a more balanced local ecosystem, we would very much favour a reintroduction and would be willing to assist in this endeavour.
01 Oct 2024 16:35:00
We are members of Sussex Wildlife and live on the Ashdown Forest .We are very supportive of the introduction of pine martens to restore the balance of nature especially if they help control grey squirrels which are such a problem for our wild birds. There are plenty of birch and alder which we understand are essential for the martens.
19 Jan 2025 19:25:00