Conservationists have discovered that pine martens, previously only thought to have survived largely in the North of England, are now well established in several areas of the New Forest and successfully breeding. The evidence was uncovered in the second year of a long-term study to understand how these rare and protected creatures are recolonising the area.

Pine martens, a cat-sized member of the weasel family, were once widespread across the UK. Habitat loss and persecution reduced their numbers, with only small and fragmented populations remaining, mostly in northern England, Scotland, and parts of Wales.

A growing number of confirmed New Forest sightings over the last six years led to the creation of a long-term study. Led by Forestry England and Wild New Forest, with support from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and a grant from the Love the Forest scheme, the project will map and monitor the growing New Forest pine marten population.

The team uses a range of techniques to study these nocturnal creatures, including hidden cameras. Over 100 video clips were captured in 2022, including some showing young pine martens exploring and playing together, providing further evidence that they are successfully breeding.

The new clips also confirm initial findings that pine martens prefer to use fallen trees and branches to navigate across the forest floor and to cross streams and wet areas.

During 2022, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has continued to support Forestry England, Wild New Forest and the New Forest Study Group, to determine the presence or absence of pine martens throughout the New Forest. Our staff have been monitoring one of the Wildlife Trusts’ reserves, using hidden wildlife camera traps, in an attempt to discover evidence that pine martens are using the woodland habitat.

Having reviewed over 10,500 trail camera clips since spring 2021 – equating to approximately 60 hours of footage – Trust staff were rewarded with five separate video clips of pine martens. This proved the area has suitable habitat to support these enigmatic and rare creatures. 

Trust ecologist Jo Gore, who painstakingly reviewed many of those clips, said: “The opportunity to discover that pine martens are living successfully in the woods of the New Forest has been very rewarding. 

“It has been a real pleasure to capture the secret life of the animals that use the woods. To see glimpses of pine marten and other rare species that use these protected areas has been very special.”

Leanne Sargeant, Senior Ecologist for Forestry England, said: “The progress of pine martens in the New Forest is a real success story. It’s our goal to make sure the nation’s forests provide wildlife with places to thrive and expand.

"Here in the New Forest pine martens are doing just that. The survey makes it clear that they are settling in a wide range of areas and successfully breeding.

"We hope that knowing more about their development will help us support these rare creatures and inform reintroduction projects elsewhere.”

The team hope to combine the video with other methods to assess the size of the population of pine martens in the New Forest.

Mostly chestnut brown in colour, each pine marten has a uniquely shaped bib – a pale yellow section of fur on its chin and throat. This can help to identify individuals and, by observing their interactions, the team may also be able to monitor family groups.

Marcus Ward from the specialist conservation consultancy, Wild New Forest, said: “It is incredibly rare to actually see a pine marten in the forest, even for someone like me who spends pretty much every day here. So, to have again captured so many clips of these amazing animals is incredible.

"This video gives us a unique view into their hidden world and an opportunity to really advance the understanding of these special creatures and how best to support them.”

The project will share its findings with the national pine marten strategy focussing on wider recovery of the species.

The survey team are also being supported by the New Forest Badger Group and are keen for other organisations and landowners to get involved in the project.

Forestry England is helping to return lost species of wildlife as a key part of nature recovery across the nation’s forests. It is supporting a range of projects to help secure the return of pine martens and monitoring populations in the New Forest, Kielder Forest, Grizedale Forest and in the Forest of Dean, where England’s first reintroduction of pine martens began in 2019.